Harlequins v ToulouseCONOR O'SHEA has no doubt about the size of unbeaten Harlequins' Heineken Cup task against French giants Toulouse tonight.
Quins will bid for their 15th successive victory in all competitions this season, having won 10 Aviva Premiership games, two European ties and two LV= Cup fixtures.
But Toulouse arrive at the Twickenham Stoop with an impeccable European pedigree after being crowned Heineken Cup winners four times and currently leading France’s domestic Top 14 championship.
“They set the benchmark for European rugby,” Quins rugby director O’Shea said. “It is why we want to be in the Heineken Cup to play against teams like Toulouse.
“We always talk about testing ourselves to see where we stand, and we are playing against the best side in Europe. We’ll see where we are as a team on Friday,” O’Shea said. “They’re the greatest side in Heineken Cup history.”
O’Shea said Toulouse’s budget dwarfed Harlequins’ finances. “It’s the ultimate test – they can pick two sides packed full of full internationals, world-class superstars,” he said. “If you’re not going to enjoy playing rugby in that kind of environment, you shouldn’t be around.”
Quins captain Chris Robshaw described Toulouse as “the Real Madrid or Barcelona of rugby”, adding: “As a player you want to test yourself against these sorts of teams. It will be a great test in terms of seeing how far we’ve come.”
O’Shea balked at the suggestion his side might be tired following their hard-fought victory over Wasps at Adams Park last weekend, saying the problem was finding a way of “holding the players back”.
“The energy will take care of itself because the players can’t wait and the supporters are no doubt counting down the days,” he added.
England number eight Nick Easter returns for Quins after he missed last weekend’s Premiership victory due to injury, with lock George Robson also back, while Benjamin Urdapilleta replaces centre Tom Casson, who suffered an ankle injury during training this week.
Quins’ England wing Ugo Monye agreed fresh contract terms with the club earlier this week but is only on the bench tonight.
Toulouse, conquerors of Quins in all three previous Heineken Cup meetings, parade recent signings Luke McAlister and Luke Burgess as their half-backs, while French World Cup stars Thierry Dusautoir, Maxime Medard and Vincent Clerc also start.
In all, Toulouse have 13 internationals in the starting line-up: Fijian wing Timoci Matanavou (six tries already this season) and lock Yoann Maestri are the odd ones out.
HARLEQUINS: M Brown; S Stegmann, M Hopper, B Urdapilleta, S Smith; N Evans, D Care; J Marler, C Brooker, J Johnston; T Vallejos, G Robson; M Faasavalu, C Robshaw (capt), N Easter. Replacements: J Gray, M Lambert, K Sinckler, C Matthews, L Wallace, R Bolt, R Clegg, U Monye.
TOULOUSE: M Medard; V Clerc, F Fritz, Y Jauzion, T Matanavou; L McAlister, L Burgess; J Poux, G Botha, C Johnston; G Lamboley, Y Maestri; Y Nyanga, T Dusautoir (capt), L Picamoles. Replacements: W Servat, Y Montes, J Falefa, R Millo-Chluski, J Doussain, Y Donguy, Y David, S Sowerby.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland).
Verdict: Harlequins.
