Toulouse (AFP)

Toulouse, relieved by the return of its internationals, has recovered in order of battle at the right time to conquer a fifth European crown, from Friday (8:45 pm) in Gloucester for the opening of the European Cup. 'Europe.

Maxime Médard, Sofiane Guitoune, Romain Ntamack, Yoann Huget ... Saturday at the Stadium, against Clermont (34-8), Stade Toulousain has finally returned to its level. His game lights up as soon as his best talents come back. Even if, says the manager Ugo Mola, everything is far from perfect.

Last season, in addition to their twentieth national title, the Toulouse, already crowned in Europe in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010, have managed an unexpected course in the continental event, which ended in the semi-final on the grass of the Leinster (30-12).

At the edge of this new campaign, Mola confesses to question. If last year, the team had nothing to lose because it had not played the queen event for a long time, this time "we are champions of France in title and semi-finalists".

"We can not not assume this status," hammered the manager.

And this is not the return by the end of the month of Cheslin Kolbe, the South African winger still celebrating his title of world champion, or scrum-half Antoine Dupont, whose club pays the leave hoping that time will soften his back pain, which will change the situation.

But Mola refuses the label of "favorite". "The Leinster and Saracens will play the title," he predicted, although the Sarries, winners of three of the last four European Cups, could focus on maintaining the Championship of England, having been sanctioned 35 points for exceeding the "salary cap".

- Marathon and sprint -

For Mola, Toulouse will have to evolve at the same level as the one posted during the first 25 minutes against Clermont to extricate itself from a hen also counting Gloucester, the Irish of Connacht and Montpellier.

"For me, there are two competitions: there is the marathon: the Top 14. You will experience your group, the depth of your team, the state of mind ... And you have a sprint, only the best The European Cup is a 110m hurdles, if you miss a hedge, you are dead, or not far, "he said.

"The Top 14, you can get your feet in the hurdles, even find yourself out of the track and get out of it.There are two different competitions on the human, sports, and preparation," added the technician.

The players do not lack ambition. "If we want to do something in this European Cup, it starts with this first game," said Australian opener Zack Holmes and the captain and hooker Julien Marchand.

"At least, we have to do better than last season," said New Zealand's third row Jerome Kaino. Already world champion and champion of France, he admits that he would happily crown a European crown.

The starting XV

Gloucester: Woodward - T. Marshall, C. Harris, Atkinson, Thorley - (o) Cipriani, (m) J. Simpson - Ludlow, Morgan (cap.), Ackermann - Grobler, Clarke - Ford-Robinson, F. Marais, Ruskin

Toulouse: Ramos - Huget, Guitoune, Ntamack, Medard - (o) Z. Holmes, (m) S. Bézy - Elstadt, Kaino, F. Cros - Tekori, Verhaeghe - Faumuina, J. Merchant (cap.), Baille

replacements

Gloucester: C. Fourie, Hohneck, Balmain, Craig, Polledri, Braley, Twelvetrees, Banahan

Toulouse: Mauvaka, Castets, Aldegheri, Gray R., S. Tolofua, Placines, Pagès, Tauzin

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WAL)

© 2019 AFP