We'll ‘get in French faces’ warns Blues star

Mar 25 2008 by Simon Thomas, Western Mail

FORMER Wales skipper Gareth Thomas has promised the Blues will “get in French faces” when he returns to his old club Toulouse.

European giants Toulouse will start as firm favourites to beat the Blues on April 6 and book a last-four Heineken Cup spot.

But Thomas insists his former employers are far from invincible in their French backyard.

“In my time there I never lost in the rugby stadium (Stade Ernest Wallon) and I only lost once in the football stadium (Stade Municipal),” said Wales’ record-cap holder.

“But I’ve watched them from the bench and they’ve lost once or twice, so I know that teams can go there and win.

“People say French teams are impossible to beat at home, but if you get in their faces...”

The two sides (the Blues were plain old Cardiff back then) contested the inaugural Heineken Cup final over a decade ago, Toulouse winning 21-18, so there is a great history between the pair.

But the Welsh side have only ever beaten Toulouse once in the Heineken Cup – at home in the pool stages of the 2000-01 season – and probably couldn’t have asked for a tougher quarter-final.

But Thomas admits the Blues’ impressive away form in Europe and the EDF Energy Cup this season makes the tie anything but a foregone conclusion.

“We’ve performed well in Europe and picked up points on the road,” said the man universally known as “Alfie”.

“We also won at Bath earlier in the season in the EDF Cup and I’m looking forward to travelling away.

“I believe we can win and that we’ve got an opportunity going there.

“I feel that going to a beautiful place like Toulouse is like coming to the Millennium Stadium.

“It’s an intimidating place but an inspirational one as well.”

Thomas was a Heineken Cup winner with Toulouse in 2005 and has happy memories of his successful sojourn in south-west France.

“It will be great to go back and play somewhere that was my home for three years,” he told Rugby World magazine.

“I’ve got some really good friends there.

“When you go to a place like Toulouse, even though you’re going for the rugby, it’s good to experience the place.

“There’s so much to see and so much culture you can take your mind off rugby a bit.”

But it will be the rugby that takes precedence on Sunday week and Thomas believes that if Toulouse are expecting an easy ride up front then they will be sadly mistaken.

The Blues’ pack, he insists, has gone well all season and fronted up in Europe against Bristol, Harlequins and Stade Francais.

“Gareth Williams has been outstanding and he’s unlucky not to be in the Wales squad,” he said. “He’s keeping Rhys Thomas, another great hooker, out of the team and when the Wales squad was announced I was shocked he wasn’t included.

“Gary Powell, the prop, is also playing well and is keeping the front row competitive by making it hard to get in.

“The pack has been working really well all season. We’ve brought Fish (Tito) into the second row, Rushy is playing well at the back and everyone is on their toes.

“It’s exciting when we get the ball behind. I believe we complement each other as forwards and backs – it’s a great squad.

“We’ve done well this season, we’re near the top of the Magners League and we’ve qualified for Europe again, which was a big aim.

“Europe is a really tough competition so it’s a massive achievement to qualify from our pool. So we’re quietly confident going to Toulouse.”