Despite absentees, Toulouse still tasty and ready for Irish test

TOULOUSE coach Guy Noves admits his patched-up team have a mountain to climb in today’s Heineken Cup semi-final against London Irish (3pm).

The south-westerners will start as marginal favourites at Twickenham owing to their European pedigree – they are three-time winners of thetrophy – and the depth of talent in their squad. But they have a lengthy absentee list to contend with – star winger Vincent Clerc (knee) joined fellow France backs Florian Fritz and Clement Poitrenaud in the treatment room last weekend while Les Bleus flanker Thierry Dusautoir, whose father died earlier this week, will only be on the bench.

Noves is also worried about the strength of a London Irish team who have exceeded all expectations by making it this far for the first time.