Scarlets go to Toulouse determined

Llanelli Scarlets may be out of contention for a quarter-final spot but they intend to have a good go at pool-topping Toulouse in Toulouse on Friday night in a Round 6 match in Pool 3 of the Heineken Cup.

For Toulouse, three points ahead of the Saints, victory will see them through to the quarters but they will want an added bonus point to make their quarter-final in Toulouse.

For the home side Frédéric Michalak, out with an ankle injury, comes back into the side.He is on the bench for the start of the match

Toulouse have made changes. Clément Poitrenaud comes to fullback from the bench whither Nicolas Jeanjean retires. Welsh captain Gareth Thomas comes off the bench to right-wing in the place of Vincent Clerc who goes to left-wing in the place of Cédric Heymans who subsides to the bench..

The whole front row changes. Patrice Collazo and William Servat, whom Bernard Laporte is suggesting as a No.8 for France, come in and Jean-Baptiste Poux switches to tighthead in the place of Omar Hassan.

Isitolo Maka is at No.8 for Christian Labit. Trevor Brennan is at lock for Grégory Lamboley.

They are big changes and lurking on the bench is a group of talented players any team would want.
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Gareth Jenkins, the Scarlets' coach, has said that his side will give it their best as there is a proud club's pride at stake.

The Scarlets have a change in the front row. Phil John comes in at prop for the injured Iestyn Thomas. David Maddocks comes into the bench in John's place. Also on the bench, and of great interest to Wales at large, is hooker Robyn McBryde as he makes his way back from a long injury.

Teams:

Scarlets: 15 Garan Evans, 14 Aisea Havili, 13 Michael Phillips, 12 Salesi Finau, 11 Tal Selley, 10 Gareth Bowen, 9 Dwayne Peel, 8 Dafydd Jones, 7 Gavin Thomas, 6 Simon Easterby (captain),  5 Chris Wyatt,  4 Vernon Cooper, 3 John Davies, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Phil John
Replacements: 16 David Maddocks, 17 Robyn McBryde, 18 Adam Jones, 19 Andrew Powell, 20 Bryn Griffiths, 21 Aled Gravelle, 22 Arwel Thomas.

Toulouse: 15 Clément Poitrenaud, 14 Gareth Thomas, 13 Yannick Jauzion, 12 Florian Fritz, 11 Vincent Clerc, 10 Jean-Frédéric Dubois, 9 Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 8 Isitolo Maka, 7 Finau Maka,6 Jean Bouilhou,  5 Trevor Brennan, 4 Fabien Pelous (captain), 3 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 2 William Servat, 1 Patrice Collazo
Replacements: 16 Yannick Bru, 17 Omar Hassan, 18 Gregory Lamboley, 19 Christian Labit, 20 Frédéric Michalak, 21 Cédric Heymans, 22 Nicolas Jeanjean,  .

Date: Friday, 14 January 2005
Kick-off: 20.30
Venue: Stade Ernest-Wallon
Expected weather conditions: Scattered clouds with the temperature dropping to 2° and a wind of 7 km/h 
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Touch judges: Steve Lander, Andrew Pearce (both England)
Television match official: Nigel Yates (England)
Match commissioner: Jean Matheu (France)