Toulouse rest stars with Munster on the horizon

Toulouse coach Guy Noves looks to have prioritised the Heineken Cup over the Top 14 after deciding to give three of his French internationals a weekend off ahead of their quarter-final trip to Munster.

Ordinarily Noves would go in all guns blazing for a domestic clash with reigning Heineken Cup champions Toulon but, with his team in sixth place, he has opted to keep some key players fresh for Thomond Park on Saturday, April 5.

Lock Yoann Maestri, who opposed Paul O’Connell in the Six Nations decider at Stade de France, centre Gael Fickou and wing Maxime Medard have all been given the weekend off. But Noves is no fool, has plenty of strength in depth and will welcome back international wing Yoann Huget and outside-half Lionel Beauxis.

Florian Fritz is also fit to resume in the midfield for the first time since December, while centre Yann David is back in contention with French flanker Yannick Nyanga.

Former All Black outside-half Luke McAlister will miss the Toulon match with a back injury sustained in the draw against Stade Francais last week, but hopes to be fit to face Munster.

Toulon are currently second in the Top 14, four points clear of Toulouse. But there are only 10 points covering the top eight teams as the race for the play-offs heats up with four games to play.

Toulon, who are at home in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals next weekend against Leinster, have home advantage over Toulouse in the Top 14 on Saturday night at Stade Velodrome, Marseille, when they hope to have Jonny Wilkinson back in their side after recovering from injury.