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Four-time Heineken Cup champions Toulouse host Zebre at Stade Ernest Wallon on Friday in a David versus Goliath battle. - 08/10/2013 10:52
Four-time Heineken Cup champions Toulouse host Zebre at Stade Ernest Wallon on Friday in a David versus Goliath battle.
Zebre went through their entire debut season without securing a single victory in Heineken Cup or Pro12 action, but they broke their league duck with a famous victory over Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park earlier this month and are now targeting a similar success in Europe.
The Italian franchise strengthened well in the summer and former All Black Brendon Leonard has become a vital talisman for the team in partnership with Luciano Orquera at half-back.
But they could not face any more of a daunting challenge than travelling to the home of Toulouse. The French giants have never lost to Italian opposition in European competition and boast a formidable record on their home patch having lost just once in their last 14 matches.
They failed to reach the knockout stages for just the fourth time in their history last season and have made no secret of their desire to take ‘revenge’ in the new campaign.
They currently sit third in the Top 14 table, having won five of their opening nine matches and backs coach Jean-Baptiste Elissald has urged his side to take no prisoners against the Italians.
“The goal is to get the best in this competition and the best course would be to take five points. But we also have to beware of this team who imposed themselves in Cardiff,” said the former Toulouse and France scrum-half.
Toulouse warmed up for the clash with a 28-10 victory over Stade Francais, with jet-heeled wing Yoann Huget grabbing a hat-trick of tries, while Zebre fell to a disappointing 30-7 defeat at the hands of Newport Gwent Dragons.
Match Facts
Friday, 11 October 2013; 21:00, Stade Ernest Wallon, Canal+, Sky Sports, Sky Italia
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
Assistant Ref: Martin Fox (Eng) Assistant Ref: Stuart Terheege (Eng)
TMO: David Grashoff (Eng) Citing Commissioner: Iain Goodall (Sco)
- Toulouse are meeting Zebre in Europe for the first time.
- The French giants have played eight and won eight against Italian opposition in the Heineken Cup, scoring over 30 points in six of these matches.
- Zebre’s debut season in Europe’s premier competition saw them lose all six pool matches
- Zebre had the worst tackle success rate in the tournament last season (85%).
Già qualificati ai quarti grazie alla vittoria contro i Saracens
Toulouse began their quest for a fifth Heineken Cup crown with a 38-5 bonus-point win over Zebre in Pool 3.
Europe’s most successful side picked up maximum points at the Stade Ernest Wallon as they crossed for six tries in a straightforward start to their latest continental challenge.
Maxime Medard and Yoann Huget bagged a brace of scores apiece, with Gregory Lamboley and Yannick Nyanga also touching down against the Italians.
Zebre claimed a consolation score through left wing Dion Berryman but last season’s tournament debutants never looked like causing what would have been a huge upset.
Toulouse had the bonus-point sewn up by half-time as they raced into a 24-0 interval lead prior to next week’s massive match up with Saracens at Wembley.
Huget crossed for the game’s opening try after 11 minutes and Lamboley grabbed the second just six minutes later. Huget then added a quick-fire second exactly midway through the first period and, even though Sebastien Bezy missed two of the three conversions, Zebre were already facing a mountain to climb at 17-0 down.
Medard’s first extended the gap with 33 minutes gone and his second took the lead out to 31-0 four minutes after the break.
Berryman cut the gap just a minute later as Zebre got off the mark but Nyanga added his side’s sixth try with 24 minutes left to play.
Zebre refused to back down, though, and they kept the tournament heavyweights scoreless for the remainder of the match to ensure they take something positive into next week’s home tie with Connacht.
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