The two most successful teams in European rugby history go head-to-head with Pool 1 supremacy and qualification for the knockout stages on the line, as Leinster look to avenge their second round defeat to fellow four-time champions Toulouse.
HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 1: Saturday, January 12
LEINSTER (2nd) v TOULOUSE (1st), the RDS, 1pm (live Virgin Media One/Channel 4/BT Sport/beIN Sports/FR2/Newstalk/highlights Virgin Media One)
Team News: Adam Byrne and Sean Cronin are the only players retained in the Leinster team from last week’s derby dismissal of Ulster, as Leo Cullen’s men aim for revenge against Pool 1 leaders Toulouse at the RDS this afternoon.
Captain Jonathan Sexton (knee) and Devin Toner (ankle) lead the list of absentees for Leinster, who also head into the sold-out Heineken Champions Cup game without Rob Kearney, who picked up a quad injury this week, Robbie Henshaw, who only returned to training in recent days, and the suspended James Lowe.
Kearney’s place at full-back goes to Jordan Larmour, who also donned the number 15 jersey in October’s 28-27 defeat in Toulouse, with Adam Byrne, a try scorer last time out in Europe against Bath, and Dave Kearney filling the wing berths.
The 23-year-old Ross Byrne steps in for Sexton at half-back, supported by Luke McGrath at scrum half and the midfield duo of Garry Ringrose and Rory O’Loughlin, who started together against Bath and Munster last month with O’Loughlin in man-of-the-match form at the Aviva Stadium.
Sean Cronin, who touched down twice against Ulster last Saturday, is joined by Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong in the front row, while Australian international Scott Fardy comes in for his first Champions Cup start of the campaign, partnering James Ryan in the engine room.
Rhys Ruddock takes the captaincy reins, leading the province from the back row alongside Josh van der Flier and number 8 Jack Conan, with Dan Leavy having sustained a calf injury in training. Mullingar native Conor O’Brien is poised to make his European debut off the bench, having impressed in the recent rounds of the GUINNESS PRO14.
DART officials have advised Leinster Rugby that there is a limited service running this weekend due to engineering works taking place in Pearse Station.
All services from the northside will terminate in Connolly Station and all services southside will terminate in Grand Canal Dock Station. Dublin Bus will honour all tickets/Leap cards.
Meanwhile, Toulouse boss Ugo Mola has made five personnel changes and two positional switches to the side that overcame Leinster 28-27 at home in October. Fit-again former All Black Jerome Kaino features at number 8 for his fourth start of the campaign.
Yoann Huget and Antoine Dupont get the nod on the left wing and at scrum half respectively, with Australian Richie Arnold joining Joe Tekori in the second row. Rynhardt Elstadt from South Africa shifts to the openside berth with Francois Cros completing the back row.
Thomas Ramos, who was their starting full-back in the first game against Leinster, switches to out-half for the unbeaten Frenchmen. Although there is plenty of interest in South African speedster Cheslin Kolbe, the hosts will also have to keep close tabs on Maxime Medard and Yoann Huget who both touched down during last weekend’s 27-20 Top 14 win over Agen.
LEINSTER: Jordan Larmour; Adam Byrne, Garry Ringrose, Rory O’Loughlin, Dave Kearney; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Scott Fardy, James Ryan, Rhys Ruddock (capt), Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.
Replacements: James Tracy, Ed Byrne, Andrew Porter, Ross Molony, Max Deegan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Noel Reid, Conor O’Brien.
TOULOUSE: Maxime Médard; Cheslin Kolbe, Sofiane Guitoune, Romain Ntamack, Yoann Huget; Thomas Ramos, Antoine Dupont; Clément Castets, Julien Marchand (capt), Charlie Faumuina, Richie Arnold, Joe Tekori, Francois Cros, Rynhardt Elstadt, Jerome Kaino.
Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Cyril Baille, Dorian Aldegheri, Piula Faasalele, Louis Madaule, Alban Placines, Sébastien Bézy, Zack Holmes.
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Leinster to win: 1/4; Draw: 22/1; Toulouse to win: 16/5
Pre-Match Quotes: Leo Cullen (Leinster) – “It’s an unbelievable challenge and we’ve got full confidence in the guys. We’re excited about them and what they can deliver on the day in front of what is a packed house here again, hopefully.
“I know we’ve had three big interpros over the course of the Christmas period but this is the one that’s been in, I wouldn’t say back of our mind because it’s probably closer to the front of our minds. When I was coming out of school and the European Cup was starting, Toulouse were the team that were ahead of everybody else.
“They’re such a massive club, they’re so heavily resourced. They’ve always had that sprinkling of foreign stars there but it’s based on a lot of their own homegrown talent which we would have learnt a huge amount from over the years.
“They potentially lost their way over the course of a short period and that’s a good lesson for us all. But they’ve gone back to what they’re probably most true to, which is the way you want to play the game and the type of players that they have. It’s an unbelievably exciting match-up – a team that we have so much respect for.”
Stuart Lancaster (Leinster) – “Of all the tries (Toulouse) have scored, over half of them are off counter-attack, which is incredible. So if you look at the top tries of the season, I reckon Toulouse would have the top five at the moment, in terms of their running and ability to break and play unstructured rugby.
“We pride ourselves in our ability to play unstructured rugby but they are at a different level. They are outstanding. So we need to be controlled and composed but also not be afraid to fire some shots of our own as well. It should be a fantastic game.
“I’ve seen (Cheslin) Kolbe run around people, dodge around people and then I saw him score another try where he actually ran through the ten, just ran over him. You think he doesn’t look huge but he ran through the middle of a ruck the other day. Yeah he’s got incredible feet. You’d pay money to see Jordan Larmour and Kolbe on the same field, wouldn’t you?
“When you think of the games Ross (Byrne) played in last year for Leinster in Europe, there’s no doubt in our minds about his capability to play at this level and run the show. I actually think he’s been probably the most improved player that we’ve had over the course of the last 12 months and totally justified his call-up to Ireland.
“He trains consistently well. He’s benefited from being sat underneath Johnny (Sexton) for two or three years. I can’t give him enough credit to how highly I personally regard him. He’s a leader, he runs the show. His kicking game is excellent, he’s ready 100%, enough said.”
Current Form – Leinster – (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 33-32 v Cardiff Blues (away), Lost 23-21 v Scarlets (away), Won 52-10 v Dragons (home), Won 31-7 v Edinburgh (home), Won 20-3 v Connacht (away), Won 30-22 v Munster (home); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 52-3 v Wasps (home), Lost 28-27 v Toulouse (away); (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 31-3 v Benetton Rugby (away), Won 38-31 v Isuzu Southern Kings (away), Won 52-7 v Ospreys (home), Won 59-10 v Dragons (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 17-10 v Bath (away), Won 42-15 v Bath (home); (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 33-29 v Connacht (home), Lost 26-17 v Munster (away), Won 40-7 v Ulster (home)
Toulouse – (Top 14 Championship): Drew 16-16 v Lyon (away), Won 23-20 v Grenoble (away), Won 33-26 v La Rochelle (home), Won 30-17 v Racing 92 (home), Lost 66-15 v Montpellier (away), Lost 26-22 v Castres Olympique (home), Won 10-0 v Agen (home); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 22-20 v Bath (away), Won 28-27 v Leinster (home); (Top 14 Championship): Won 36-18 v Perpignan (away), Won 40-0 v Bordeaux-Begles (home), Won 15-13 v Pau (away), Won 49-20 v Stade Francais (home); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 24-16 v Wasps (away), Won 42-27 v Wasps (home); (Top 14 Championship): Drew 20-20 v Clermont Auvergne (away), Won 39-0 v Toulon (home), Won 27-20 v Agen (away)
Top Scorers – 2018/19 Heineken Champions Cup: Leinster – Points: Jonathan Sexton 36; Tries: Sean Cronin, James Lowe 3 each; Toulouse – Points: Thomas Ramos 51; Tries: Sofiane Guitoune 4
Previous European Meetings: 10
Sunday, October 21, 2018 – Pool 1 – Toulouse 28 Leinster 27, Stade Ernest Wallon
Saturday, April 30, 2011 – Semi-Final – Leinster 32 Toulouse 23, Aviva Stadium
Saturday, May 1, 2010 – Semi-Final – Toulouse 26 Leinster 16, Stade Municipal
Saturday, January 12, 2008 – Pool 6 – Leinster 20 Toulouse 13, the RDS
Sunday, November 18, 2007 – Pool 6 – Toulouse 33 Leinster 6, Stade Ernest Wallon
Saturday, April 1, 2006 – Quarter-Final – Toulouse 35 Leinster 41, Stade Municipal
Sunday, January 13, 2002 – Pool 6 – Toulouse 43 Leinster 7, Stade Municipal
Friday, September 28, 2001 – Pool 6 – Leinster 40 Toulouse 10, Donnybrook
Saturday, October 11, 1997 – Pool A – Toulouse 38 Leinster 19, Stade Ernest Wallon
Saturday, September 6, 1997 – Pool A – Leinster 25 Toulouse 34, Donnybrook
Match Facts –
– The winning team has alternated in the last nine meetings between Leinster and Toulouse, with the Top 14 side winning five of those encounters to Leinster’s four
– Toulouse are one of just three clubs to have won all four games so far this season, along with Saracens and Racing 92
– Toulouse are on a run of four consecutive victories, and the last time they enjoyed a longer winning run was between December 2009 and January 2011 (W11), during which they lifted the European Cup for the fourth time in 2010
– Leinster have won 22 of their last 24 games when hosting Top 14 clubs (L2), picking up losing bonus points in both of their defeats in that sequence
– Toulouse have lost each of their last four games away to Irish opposition, with three of those defeats coming by margins of more than 20 points
– Leinster have conceded just 47 turnovers this season, fewer than any other side, while Toulouse have won the most (34)
– Toulouse’s Thomas Ramos (51) is the top points scorer after four rounds, while his team-mate Sofiane Guitoune is one of the top try scorers this season (4), level with Jacob Stockdale, Juan Imhoff and Sean Maitland
European Cup Records:
Leinster –
2017/18: Champions
2016/17: Reached the semi-finals
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2014/15: Reached the semi-finals
2013/14: Reached the quarter-finals
2012/13: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2011/12: Champions
2010/11: Champions
2009/10: Reached the semi-finals
2008/09: Champions
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2006/07: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Reached the semi-finals
2004/05: Reached the quarter-finals
2003/04: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2002/03: Reached the semi-finals
2001/02: Reached the quarter-finals
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
1998/99: Failed to qualify from Pool A
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool A
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool B
1995/96: Reached the semi-finals
Toulouse –
2016/17: Reached the quarter-finals
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2013/14: Reached the quarter-finals
2012/13: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2011/12: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Reached the semi-finals
2009/10: Champions
2008/09: Reached the quarter-finals
2007/08: Runners-up
2006/07: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2005/06: Reached the quarter-finals
2004/05: Champions
2003/04: Runners-up
2002/03: Champions
2001/02: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
1999/00: Reached the semi-finals
1998/99: Reached the quarter-finals
1997/98: Reached the semi Finals
1996/97: Reached the semi-finals
1995/96: Champions
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