After the events that unfolded in Paris last night the matches that are continuing on this opening weekend are clouded under sadness and disbelief. The harrowing scenes from the French capital shook us all to our very core and at today's game there will be a minute of silence and a rendition of the La Marseillaise preceding the match to respect those affected.
Saracens’ start to the 2015/16 season has been one filled with positivity as Mark McCall’s men have continued where they left off last year. In every round Saracens have shown their trademark physicality and work rate and will need both assets today. Four wins in four matches is a testament to their productive pre-season and last weekend’s challenging victory at Franklin’s Gardens will have been the perfect preparation going into this opening European fixture.
The Top 14 competition started earlier than the Aviva Premiership and that means that Toulouse are very much into their stride after eight rounds of action. At the end of last season Guy Noves stepped down after over a decade in charge and handed the reigns to Ugo Mola. The new head coach has quickly got into his stride and his side have looked extremely well put together under his tutelage. Recently Toby Flood shared with Rugby World that they have a new emphasis on video analysis, something that you would have thought was a given, and the benefits of this is being seen on the field.
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Both sides have packs that make the eyes water and of course we will all watch with baited breath as two monstrous back rows collide. Michael Rhodes, Will Fraser and Billy Vunpiola are facing off against Yacouba Camara, Thierry Dusautoir and Louis Picamoles. Rugby World Cup highlighted to us all, more than ever, the importance of controlling the breakdown and both sides will be armwrestling for supremacy underneath the floodlights at Allianz Park. Personally I hope that Will Fraser has another cracking match, he is player that deserves a spot of luck injury wise and one that has the ability to put his hand up for International recognition in the 7 jersey during the coming weeks.
This season Toulouse's backs have been enjoying themselves, scoring 25 tries to date and a man that we all know well that has been pulling the strings at 10 or 12, Toby Flood. Toby has taken well to French life and alongside scrum half Sébastien Bézy has been the source of many points in the opening eight rounds. Maxime Médard’s pace and vision will be something to watch out and Gael Fickou is another man than has plenty of French flair. Toulouse will be looking to throw the ball around and will want to test Saracens' defence that has been rock solid to date in the Aviva Premiership.
Focusing on the rugby alone this should be a cracking fixture however understandably I have concerns as to whether the players and management of Toulouse will be able to fully focus on the task at hand given what has happened back home.
Saracens’ Key Men - Owen Farrell, Will Fraser and Mako Vunipola
Toulouse’s Key Men - Toby Blood, Sébastien Bézy and Census Johnston
14/15 European Champions Cup Form - Saracens’ Semi Finalists & Toulouse Group Stages Only
Opta’s Match Facts
Saracens have won 12 of their last 14 home matches in Europe however their two losses were both against French opposition
Toulouse have played 144 games in Europe’s top flight and have never lost more than 3 consecutive matches
The last time Saracens failed to make the quarter-finals was in 2010/11
Teams
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode 14 Chris Ashton 13 Duncan Taylor 12 Brad Barritt (C) 11 Chris Wyles 10 Owen Farrell 9 Richard Wigglesworth 1 Mako Vunipola 2 Jamie George 3 Petrus Du Plessis 4 George Kruis 5 Maro Itoje 6 Michael Rhodes 7 Will Fraser 8 Billy Vunipola Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits 17 Rhys Gill 18 Juan Figallo 19 Alistair Hargreaves 20 Jackson Wray 21 Neil de Kock 22 Charlie Hodgson 23 Marcelo Bosch
Toulouse: 15 Maxime Médard; 14 Vincent Clerc 13 Gael Fickou 12 Toby Flood 11 Timoci Matanavou; 10 Luke McAlister 9 Sébastien Bézy; 1 Gurthro Steenkamp 2 Julien Marchand 3 Census Johnston 4 Yoann Maestri 5 Joe Tekori 6 Yacouba Camara 7 Thierry Dusautoir (c) 8 Louis Picamoles Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua 17 Vasil Kakovin 18 Dorian Aldegheri 19 Romain Millo-Chluski 20 Imanol Harinordoquy 21 Talalelei Gray 22 Jean-Marc Doussain 23 Yann David
