Williams: We mustn’t fear Toulouse

Apr 6 2008 by Simon Roberts, Wales On Sunday

MARTYN WILLIAMS has urged the Blues to dump any inferiority complex against Toulouse.

The Wales and Blues star and his teammates clash with the Kings of Europe in front of a sell-out 35,000 crowd at Le Stadium this afternoon.

Toulouse, the three-times Heineken Cup champions, have been THE dominant force in Europe since the tournament began.

And Williams believes most sides are beaten even before they arrive in Toulouse.

“Toulouse have an aura and mystique about them which says they are unbeatable,” said Williams.

“We have to forget about all that and just front up.

“We cannot sit back and wait for them. We need a big start, get in their faces and frustrate them.

“This is one of the big challenges of Europe. Toulouse and Munster on their home grounds are the most difficult games you could ask for.

“We know we are huge underdogs but we have gone to some tough places this season and done well.”

The Blues and Toulouse have met each other on four occasions in Europe, with the French giants winning three of the clashes, including the most famous one in the inaugural final in 1996.

Toulouse ran out 21-18 winners after extra-time at the old Arms Park.

Historically, both sides have been seen as the genuine powerhouses of Europe.

But the French giants have left the traditional Welsh giants trailing in their wake since the introduction of professionalism.

The Blues have made their first quarter-final since 2000 but Williams believes his side are a long way from reclaiming their status in Europe.

“I don’t think we are still a superpower of the European game,” said Williams.

“We were in the past but for the last 10 years we haven’t been on the same field as Toulouse.

“Look at the amount of times they have won the Heineken Cup, let alone played in semi and quarter-finals.

“We are nowhere near them when you look at their fantastic record. It has taken us a long time to get this close to them.

“But it’s only fifteen blokes against fifteen blokes and it doesn’t matter what happens off the field or what happened 10 or 20 years ago.

“For the first two seasons after I came here we got to two quarter-finals.

“But since then I have been watching big games like this on the telly.”

Williams has stuck it out at the Arms Park through the dark times when the Blues weren’t even close to competing in Europe.

“I don’t think we have gone forward in the way Toulouse have,” said Williams.

“They have big money to spend. We haven’t had that so it hasn’t been a level playing field over the last five or six years.

“We have a better squad but we are playing catch-up with organisations like Toulouse.

“At least you can see light at the end of the tunnel, whereas a few years ago you wondered if we would ever see the like of days like this again.”

Two seasons ago, Williams, who is widely regarded as the best No 7 in Europe, had his chance to move to France.

Williams, who came out of international retirement to play a pivotal role in Wales Grand Slam success, has no regrets about not leaving Wales.

“I had the opportunity to go to Perpignan but I had been through the tough times with the Blues and I knew something could happen here,” said Williams.

“We are on the verge of something and to leave after being through those dark times just didn’t make sense. We had some bad years, haven’t been to enough knock out stages of tournaments and haven’t won anything.”