Toulouse? Almost too tight to call

FORGET the bookmakers’ odds that would have you believe Leinster are set to cruise to victory over Toulouse at the Aviva Stadium today (3.30pm) because this Heineken Cup semi-final is set to be one hell of a scrap.

There are many factors that make Joe Schmidt’s side hot favourites in this compelling match-up of the last two winners of Europe’s most prestigious club competition — not least home advantage — but the Leinster head coach and his captain Leo Cullen have left their players under no illusions as to the size of the task in front of them.

Last season’s 26-16 defeat in Toulouse at the same stage of the competition is still fresh in the memory of those that saw their reign as European champions ended at Stade Ernest Wallon and the dominant performance put in by the four-time champions’ pack that day is certainly a live prospect for Leinster to deal with.