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No Toulouse XV changes but bench includes son of ex-Leinster forward
By Liam Heagney
Investec Champions Cup finalists Toulouse have named the same starting team they fielded in their semi-final win over Harlequins in early May, but they have tweaked their bench for this Saturday's final with the inclusion of Joshua Brennan in place of Mathis Castro-Ferreira.
The French side were 38-26 winners over their Gallagher Premiership opposition on May 5 and with replacement Santiago Chocobares cleared to take his spot on the bench following the expiry of his interim suspension, it means the naming of Brennan is the sole alteration to their match day 23 to take on Leinster at Tottenham.
Brennan will be a surname familiar to Leo Cullen’s Irish side as the 22-year-old is the son of Trevor, the former Ireland back-rower who joined Toulouse from Leinster in the early noughties, going on to win European and Top 14 titles with the French club.
He remained in the area following his retirement, with eldest son Daniel, 25, going on to become a prop with Brive in Pro D2 and Joshua becoming part of the Toulouse pack.
Brennan has started at either lock or openside on 11 occasions in his 16 Top 14 appearances this season and he has now been named for a fifth Champions Cup appearance this term on his club’s bench.
That bench has a five-three forwards/backs split, unlike Leinster who have shuffled their replacements and selected six sub forwards and just two backs for the final.
Leinster have also made three changes to their starting XV, including the naming of Jason Jenkins at second row ahead of James Ryan.
TOULOUSE: 15. Blair Kinghorn; 14. Juan Cruz Mallia, 13. Paul Costes, 12. Pita Ahki, 11. Matthis Lebel; 10. Romain Ntamack, 9. Antoine Dupont (capt); 1. Cyril Baille, 2. Peato Mauvaka, 3. Dorian Aldegheri, 4. Thibaud Flament, 5. Emmanuel Meafou, 6. Jack Willis, 7. François Cros, 8. Alexandre Roumat. Reps: 16. Julien Marchand, 17. Rodrigue Neti, 18. Joel Merkler, 19. Richie Arnold, 20. Joshua Brennan, 21. Paul Graou, 22. Santiago Chocobares, 23. Thomas Ramos.
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Latest Comments
Hopefully Joe stays where he is. That would mean Les, McKellar, larkham and Cron should as well. It’s the stability we need in the state programs. But, if Joe goes, RA with its current financial situation will be forced into promoting from within. And this will likely destabilise other areas.
To better understand some of the entrenched bitterness of those outside of NZ and NSW (as an example 😂), Nic, there is probably a comparison to the old hard heads of welsh rugby who are still stuck in the 1970s. Before the days where clubs merged, professionalism started, and the many sharp knives were put into the backs of those who loved the game more than everyone else. I’m sure you know a few... But given your comparison of rugby in both wales and Australia, there are a few north of the tweed that will never trust a kiwi or NSWelshman because of historical events and issues over the history of the game. It is what it is. For some, time does not heal all wounds. And it is still festering away in some people. Happy holidays to you. All the best in 2025.
Go to commentsNot surprised to see Barretts rating. He has always been a solid defender for the ABs but not particularly effective in attack situations.
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