Pedigree v Pretenders: Toulouse v Bath

After a bruising victory over Wasps, Bath must now gather themselves for a stern challenge in Europe. Next up, in Sunday’s late afternoon fixture are Toulouse, aristocrats of the Heineken Cup. A visit to the Stade Ernest-Wallon is a daunting prospect at any time; one which asks for the strongest possible squad. Having lost narrowly to the French giants in October with a depleted back row, the anxiety now is about the backs. Kyle Eastmond and Horacio Agulla pulled out early in the defeat at Leicester, while last Saturday’s stylish victory over Wasps proved expensive in injuries to Rokodoguni, Watson, Devoto & Woodburn. Mike Ford made reassuring noises about Watson after the match, but fans face an anxious wait to discover if a full strength backline will be available.

Toulouse are only just in the upper half of the Top 14 table and have struggled for consistency this season, but they remain a fearsome prospect. While Mike Ford has stated a desire for “two world class players in every position”, the strength in depth available to Toulon coach Guy Noves is already an enviable roll call of past & present international stars. Flynn, Johnson, Steenkamp, Albacete, Maestri,Dusatoir, Picamoles, Harinordoquy, to name a few up front, are supported by a choice of Flood or McAllister to pull the strings from 10. Eight French international threequarters and Fijian flyer Matanovu are available to provide the cutting edge. With the French 6 Nations squad to be named soon, standings in the national league table will matter less than individual pride and ambition, especially for the likes of flyers Medard, Clerc & Poitrenaud. Bruce Craig wants Bath to be at the very top of European Rugby: recent signings and the style of rugby played this season suggest that is becoming a realistic ambition. Toulouse however, can claim the laurels for now – 4 times winners and twice runners –up. This is very much a case of Pedigree versus Pretender.

In front of nearly 20,000 home fans Toulouse can be expected to offer a range of styles and show off a full bag of tricks: driven mauls, lineout peels, sweeping passing moves and wicked kick-chase. Bath, who had wrapped up a 27 point cushion by the 68^th minute last weekend will need to stay focused right to the end to keep in the hunt.

Bath can take heart from their December wins over Montpellier and the fact that they have a better record against French sides than most English clubs. Indeed, on their last Toulouse visit only an inability to find touch with the last kick of the game cost them a precious victory. Their task is to win-nothing else will do as to stand any chance of reaching the quarter finals as a runner up they will need at least 8, preferably 9 points from the final two games. To do that will require another titanic forward effort – similar to the one in Montpellier in early December. If all, or nearly all, of the backs are fit, then the adventure of recent games could serve Bath well. Matt Banahan could be busy chasing high kicks and running hard lines against the Toulouse outside backs, to test their willingness to tackle. Similarly, Sam Burgess will probably continue his Union education at centre, where last week he was not only comfortable but threatening. If Bath can win this it will be an escape worthy of a James Bond script. It would also set up a mouthwatering last group match against Glagow at home. In truth though, Bath are up against it.

Possible Bath Team:
James, Webber, Wilson, Attwood, Hooper , Garvey, Louw, Houston. Cook, Ford, Banahan, Burgess, Joseph, Woodburn, Agulla

Bench: Auterac, Batty, Thomas, Day, Fearns, Stringer, Devoto, Eastmond