Munster Team to Face Toulouse

Compliments and mutual respect were the order of the day in Le Stadium Toulouse at the joint press conference at which the Munster and Toulouse sides were named at midday.

Compliments and mutual respect were the order of the day in Le Stadium Toulouse at the joint press conference at which the Munster and Toulouse sides were named at midday

If all were calm, respectful and cool inside the impressive complex it was sunny and extremely hot outside as groundsmen put the final touches to the green sward.

Toulouse coach Guy Noves and Fabien Pelous represented the home side with Alan Gaffney and Jerry Holland joining them on the top table. Naturally enough Noves spoke of his and his side’s respect for the Munster side and said he anticpated a collosal challenge the following day from a side whose reputation said all that needed to be said about them.

There was a large media gathering for the event that took little over 30 minutes, neither team selection causing any surprise although Trevor Brennan remains slightly doubtful despite being named in the starting fifteen

Afterwards the Munster management team returned to the team hotel for lunch followed by the normal management meeting attended by coaches and medical staff. At 3pm Ronan O’Gara took himself off to the stadium for kicking practice accompanied by Killian Keane with the rest of the squad due to follow later in the afternoon for a walk-out on the ground where the game will be played.

Munster Team to Face Toulouse:

Jeremy Staunton John Kelly Mike Mullins Rob Henderson Anthony Horgan Ronan O’Gara Peter Stringer Marcus Horan Frank Sheahan John Hayes Donncha O’Callaghan Paul O’Connell Jim Williams capt. Alan Quinlan Anthony Foley.

Replacements: James Blaney, Simon Kerr, Mick O’Driscoll, Denis Leamy, Dominic Malone, Jason Holland, Dominic Crotty.

Toulouse Team:

C Poitrenaud; E Ntamack, Y Jauzion, X Garbajosa, V Clerc, Y Delaigue, F Michalak; .P Callazo, Y Bru, JP Poux, D Gerard, F Pelous (cap) J Bouilhou, T Brennan, C Labit

Replacements: B Lecouls, W Servat, G Lamboley, F Maka, JP Elissalde, C Debrosse, C Hayman,