Toulouse intent on putting winter of discontent behind them

Having won nine of 12 Top 14 matches before the Champions Cup kicked off in December, they won just four of the following 13 in the Top 14 during a Covid-hit period

Julien Marchand of Toulouse signs an Ulster flag for Matthew, age 12, left, and James Laird, age 15, from Limavady before the Heineken Champions Cup tie between Ulster and Toulouse at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

At the end of a winter of Top 14 and European discontent Toulouse have started to look dangerously Toulousain as the business end of the season approaches, and captain Julien Marchand believes they will be able to go toe to toe with Munster at the Aviva.

“These European matches are about details, about control,” the Toulouse and France hooker told reporters at Stade Ernest Wallon. “We know this Munster team, which is full of quality. We know that we will have to respond to their physical challenge and the intensity they will want to impose on the match.” Toulouse’s turnaround in fortunes started when their Six Nations’ cohort returned - and coincided with the lengthening of the days.