Steenkamp returns for Toulouse
Toulouse will be looking to get their Heineken Cup campaign back on track after their disappointing defeat in their last outing in Pool 6 when they host Irish province Connacht.
The four-times champions suffered a shock 31-24 home defeat to Harlequins in the last round of the Pool but are still favourites to qualify for the knock-out stages of the tournament as they welcome back Springbok prop Gurthrö Steenkamp from injury.
The French giants, who are the most successful side in European rugby, play host to a Connacht team who are enjoying their first season in European rugby’s premier competition.
The Irish province has found it tough going in their first season of Heineken Cup rugby and still haven’t won a game so far this season and have lost all four games in their Pool during this campaign.
But Connacht will be looking to put that right when they lock horns with one of the iconic sides of the European game for the first time on French soil on Saturday evening.
The teams:
Toulouse: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Yann David, 12 Florian Fritz, 11 Timoci Matanavou, 10 Luke McAlister, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 Jean Bouilhou, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Yoann Maestri, 3 Census Johnston, 2 William Servat, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Yohan Montes, 19 Grégory Lamboley, 20 Jean-Marc Doussain, 21 Lionel Beauxis, 22 Clément Poitrenaud, 23 Shaun Sowerby.
Connacht: 15 Gavin Duffy (captain), 14 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 13 Kyle Tonetti, 12 Dave McSharry, 11 Tiernan O’Halloran, 10 Niall O’Connor, 9 Paul O’Donohoe, 8 George Naoupu, 7 Ray Ofisa, 6 John Muldoon, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Michael Swift, 3 Dylan Rogers, 2 Adrian Flavin, 1 Brett Wilkinson.
Replacements: 16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Stewart Maguire, 19 Mick Kearney, 20 Eoin McKeon, 21 Dave Moore, 22 Miah Nikora, 23 Henry Fa’afili.
Date: Saturday, January 14
Venue: Stade Ernest Wallon
Kick-off: 16.40 (15.40 GMT)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
