Top 14 preview - Toulouse

Welcome to Stade Ernest-Wallon

We take an in-depth look at the runners and the riders of the 2005/06 Top 14 ahead of the new season. Today we tackle Toulouse.

Last time around:

Another disappointment in the final stages of the Top 16 was tempered by the nail-biting finale to the Heineken Cup, which saw les Toulousains become the only club to be thrice crowned champions of Europe (the other two were in 1996 and 2003). Stade Français, beaten in that match, inflicted due retribution a fortnight later by knocking Toulouse out of the championship play-offs at the semi-final stage in Paris, after Toulouse had finished fourth in the regular season.

This time?

The recovery of captain Fabien Pelous from injury is timely for Toulouse, as several of their first-choice pack is out injured for the start of the season. They have heavy problems in the front row, where they have had to sign Julian Fiorini - who had left the club - back onto the books as a medical joker to cover the absences of props Human, Poux, and Menkarska. But the depth of quality at the club is simply staggering. A fully-fledged and international back-line could start any game, and the only reason that the same will not be true of the forwards on the opening day is because of the injuries outlined above. This will be the fifth season since they last swiped their domestic crown in 2001, and it is likely to be the last before they swipe the next. In the Heineken Cup, matters are slightly different. Their match-up with Wasps - whose crown they stole - is simply mouth-watering. Llanelli are perennial European opposition too, and Toulouse will not fancy the trip to Stradey. If they want to retain that crown, they will have to work right from the off.

Captain: One of only four international rugby centurions, Fabien Pelous has signalled his intent to lead both club and country for fifteen more months until the 2007 Rugby World Cup. To lift that would complete his list of honours, a completion which would fully befit one of rugby's truest legends. He is due to return from his knee injury in mid-September to lead the team with the quiet and considered authority which is his trademark.

One to watch: there are talents all over the field, but new signing Yannick Nyanga's first intruisons into the international arena have been impressive to say the least. He was at now-relegated Béziers last year, which no doubt schooled him in the art of defence, but it is his pace and handling skills which we are looking forward to seeing in Toulouse colours. Young winger Maxime Médard is ready to make the step up to the first team as well, expect a few cameos from this gifted young winger.

In: Yannick Nyanga (Béziers), Grégory Menkarska (Auch), Aidan McCullen (Leinster).

Out: Sylvain Dupuy (Perpignan), Christian Labit, Lionel Mazars and Julien Patey (Narbonne), Patrice Collazo (Gloucester), Florian Denos (Auch), Julian Fiorini, Dragos Dima (Romanian), Abdel Boutati (Pau, Moroccan).

Colours: Black and red

Club info:

Stade Ernest-Wallon (19000 seats)
114, rue des Troènes
31200 Toulouse

Tickets: ¬10-40

Travel connetions: Toulouse has its own international airport, and its own TGV connection to Paris, but if it is low-cost flights you are after, it may be cheaper to fly to nearby Carcassone and grab a shuttle into town.