Toulouse to lose?

fitz · Post by **fitz** » March 23rd, 2006, 3:39 pm

Ok so I couldn't resist the title...

But seriously. Nine days to go to the big game - what are leinster's chances?
Toulouse are the best team in europe for some time now. They are unbeaten at home in the HEC for some time now. Will we be relying on them to have an off day & us to be on form to win? Can gleeson harass michalak enough to ensure he has a bad day out? Can we live with them up front? Toulouse v Agen Setanta this Friday. Got to be worth a look.

Grumpy Old Man · Post by **Grumpy Old Man** » March 23rd, 2006, 3:50 pm

Can't help thinking back to last years QF when our international players came back from a disappointing end to the 6N and took that form into the game against the Exiles (sorry, Leicester). Also DK was slithering back to his Turnipstani roots and Shane Jennings had been poached. We were shite, but with all that in the background was it that surprising.

At the end of this years group stage I thought we had a 30/70 chance of winning in Toulouse. Now I'm thinking no worse than 50/50.

b*%&!cks, I hate it when I start getting confident!

harryp · Post by **harryp** » March 23rd, 2006, 4:56 pm

I genuinely believe that we can.

They are probably the best side in the Competition, history wise, but we are arguably as good as them. We just haven't performed at the highest level, YET.

1 to 15, we're as good as them. Any time I've seen Toulouse recently they were far from convincing. And they have a tendency to ship a lot of points.

Cheika & Knoxy get the tactics right, its anybodies game.

jezzer · Post by **jezzer** » March 23rd, 2006, 5:10 pm

I think we can do it too. I just would like to see a bit of extra beef in th pack in the form of Giss.
Cheika says he has been watching toulouse for some time and has developed a strategy for beating them. I'd be inclined to think he's got something pretty concrete to work on. As someone said they do ship a lot of points. it'll be about ruthless execution - something Mr. Cheika is pretty hot on but doesn't always get.

I can see us starting well, and if we can stop them getting back into it, we could hold off a one or 2 score lead.

fitz · Post by **fitz** » March 23rd, 2006, 5:28 pm

yeah up front is where it will be won or lost. our backs are pretty well much all on form and will have the match of the toulouse backs (at least). i am slightly worried about our front five. would like to see gissing in there aswell as we need to front up and he will.

interesting to hear cheika saying that. one advantage is he has been studying them for two months now. its unlikely guy noves has spent half as much time. toulouse will eventually lose a QF at home. hopefully its sat week!

go_on_the_poni · Post by **go_on_the_poni** » March 23rd, 2006, 5:35 pm

have a look at what their fans are predicting

http://www.forumst.net//index.php?s=79d ... 5718&st=45

Grumpy Old Man · Post by **Grumpy Old Man** » March 23rd, 2006, 5:46 pm

Oh well, might as well cancel the tickets now.
Sure what do the cheese eating surrender monkeys know about Rugby, one of them even thinks that Munster will get to the final

Phil06 · Post by **Phil06** » March 23rd, 2006, 9:41 pm

Well if its form we want I hope the Leinster Internationals bottled some of the emotion and determination they showed in Twix last weekend... My money is on Shaggy & Girv to have the games of their lifes in Toulouse!!!

thecoolfreak · Post by **thecoolfreak** » March 23rd, 2006, 11:02 pm

My money is on Shaggy & Girv to have the games of their lifes in Toulouse!!!

Every game Girv plays is a game of his life. He's that fockin amazing.

ad nauseam · Post by **ad nauseam** » March 23rd, 2006, 11:03 pm

Nope, not a hope. The most we can expect is for them to have an off day and for us to be on song, in which case we will lose by no more than 5 points! Positive or wha'? That said, I'll be there just in case the pig flies again, like it did in Bath...

harryp · Post by **harryp** » March 23rd, 2006, 11:09 pm

ad nauseam wrote:Nope, not a hope. The most we can expect is for them to have an off day and for us to be on song, in which case we will lose by no more than 5 points! Positive or wha'? That said, I'll be there just in case the pig flies again, like it did in Bath...

Well that destroyed the feel good factor to this thread!

Tell me, would you be laying odds on that? Have to disagree with you there, and we need positive attitudes to make our support count.

Welcome to the site ad naus! You looking forward to Toulouse?

TrueBlue · Post by **TrueBlue** » March 23rd, 2006, 11:24 pm

harryp wrote:
ad nauseam wrote:Nope, not a hope. The most we can expect is for them to have an off day and for us to be on song, in which case we will lose by no more than 5 points! Positive or wha'? That said, I'll be there just in case the pig flies again, like it did in Bath...
Well that destroyed the feel good factor to this thread!

Tell me, would you be laying odds on that? Have to disagree with you there, and we need positive attitudes to make our support count.

Welcome to the site ad naus! You looking forward to Toulouse?

Hello PESSIMISM!!!

pigs didnt fly in Bath-we were/are a better team than Bath, home and away....no surprises that we won-we just did it in style.

If we play well-we will win...

ad nauseam · Post by **ad nauseam** » March 24th, 2006, 9:45 pm

Nothing like a dose of reality to stir it up!

harryp · Post by **harryp** » March 24th, 2006, 10:27 pm

They beat Agen 19-7, in horrible conditions.
Seemingly Ellisalde had a nightmare of a game