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<blockquote data-quote="FrenchFan" data-source="post: 697853" data-attributes="member: 70871"><p>Hard to see a winner yet. I still think <strong>Toulon </strong>are favourites. </p><p>They look very solid. They dropped one pool game last year in similar circumstances in Wales. And they cranked it up in a big way after January. I can't see many going to Mayol and beating them. Also they'll have Giteau back by then and he makes a big difference. But no one's unbeatable. We beat them in Toulouse in Top 14 last October, so they are vulnerable. Still, we had to play our best rugby of the season and blitzed them in the first half and managed our lead well afterwards</p><p></p><p>The only thing that can affect the French teams will be their performance in Top14. It's going to be such a battle from January onwards. A lot of energy will go into it, how much will they have left in the tank, hard to say. Injuries to key players will come into it as well.</p><p></p><p><strong>Toulouse</strong>, I can see us getting a home QF but I don't see us going past that stage. If we're not back in top 6 in the league, Europe will become much less of a priority. I hope I'm wrong. But we can no longer chase the double. These days are gone. It'll be one or the other. </p><p></p><p>I would expect <strong>Sarries </strong>to make the last 4. They're a top side and can win it. I don't know enough about other Aviva teams to judge. Won't be an easy ride for anyone!</p><p></p><p>Edit: Another factor that could work agst Toulon this season is the toll they're paying to les Bleus with <strong>8</strong> players. That's a lot even with their depth. More games in an already congested season. What state will their players end up in after the 6N? Not to mention the impact of the toxic environment that surrounds the national team messing up players' head (<em>Doussain </em>and <em>Picamoles </em>for us last season)... Toulon didn't have to deal with that before. That argument works in reverse for Toulouse, the less exposure we have to the national side (only 4 so far), the better for the club's chances in both competitions.</p><p></p><p>Try of the weekend for me was <strong>Naikataci </strong>beating 5 Munster defenders.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="FrenchFan, post: 697853, member: 70871"] Hard to see a winner yet. I still think [B]Toulon [/B]are favourites. They look very solid. They dropped one pool game last year in similar circumstances in Wales. And they cranked it up in a big way after January. I can't see many going to Mayol and beating them. Also they'll have Giteau back by then and he makes a big difference. But no one's unbeatable. We beat them in Toulouse in Top 14 last October, so they are vulnerable. Still, we had to play our best rugby of the season and blitzed them in the first half and managed our lead well afterwards The only thing that can affect the French teams will be their performance in Top14. It's going to be such a battle from January onwards. A lot of energy will go into it, how much will they have left in the tank, hard to say. Injuries to key players will come into it as well. [B]Toulouse[/B], I can see us getting a home QF but I don't see us going past that stage. If we're not back in top 6 in the league, Europe will become much less of a priority. I hope I'm wrong. But we can no longer chase the double. These days are gone. It'll be one or the other. I would expect [B]Sarries [/B]to make the last 4. They're a top side and can win it. I don't know enough about other Aviva teams to judge. Won't be an easy ride for anyone! Edit: Another factor that could work agst Toulon this season is the toll they're paying to les Bleus with [B]8[/B] players. That's a lot even with their depth. More games in an already congested season. What state will their players end up in after the 6N? Not to mention the impact of the toxic environment that surrounds the national team messing up players' head ([I]Doussain [/I]and [I]Picamoles [/I]for us last season)... Toulon didn't have to deal with that before. That argument works in reverse for Toulouse, the less exposure we have to the national side (only 4 so far), the better for the club's chances in both competitions. Try of the weekend for me was [B]Naikataci [/B]beating 5 Munster defenders. [/QUOTE]
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