No Toulouse XV changes but bench includes son of ex-Leinster forward
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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For the most part Christie around the ruck base is for me way too slow although he’s to be credited for his mental and physical toughness. Arron smith was so superior with the recycled ball and it was shifted away from the base with lightening speed. TJ, I felt, started to develop a somewhat attitude of descent toward opposition and the ref. I hope he doesn’t carry this on in the upcoming tests ahead. A shame about Roigard but thems are the unfortunate breaks but it gave everyone an opportunity to see how Ratima shone and I was impressed plus his inclusion is a great choice by the selectors.
Go to commentsTotally agree. But at least watching the game on TV I could turn the sound down a bit! Mind you, while I'll probably get lambasted for saying this, the Northern Transvaal/Gauteng has always been a bit of a nuthouse and their supporters likewise. Bless them.
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