Blair Kinghorn joined in December, while 21-year-old centre Paul Costes has broken into the team.
BARRING ANY LATE surprises, it’s likely that the Toulouse team to face Leinster in Saturday’s Champions Cup final will be similar to the one that lost 41-22 in last season’s semi-final in Dublin.
Mid-season transfers are unusual in rugby but French international fullback Melvyn Jaminet was unhappy and his move to Toulon prompted Toulouse to make an approach for Kinghorn. Edinburgh got a transfer fee, Kinghorn got a three-year deal in France, and Toulouse got a player who fitted in seamlessly.
Kinghorn has even taken on place-kicking duties at stages and even though he can also play on the wing, 10 of his 11 starts for Toulouse have been at fullback.The other fresh face among the Toulouse backs is exciting 21-year-old outside centre Paul Costes, who was promoted to the starting XV for the quarter-final win over Exeter and deservedly kept his spot for the semi-final against Quins.
The sublime halfback has had three Top 14 starts at out-half but Toulouse will hope he can spend the entirety of the game against Leinster in his scrum-half slot after last season’s backfiring of their 6:2 bench split meant Dupont had to move to out-half after just 15 minutes as Ntamack shifted to midfield.
In Paeto Mauvaka and Julien Marchand, Toulouse have two elite hookers in their matchday 23, while the experienced Dorian Aldegheri has stepped up well in Laulala’s absence. Number eight Alexandre Roumat came off the bench last year but has been the starter in the middle of the back row this season, while Toulouse usually play well when the teak-tough but unhyped François Cros is at his best in the number six shirt.In a similar vein to Cros, one of the most crucial and yet still under-the-radar players in the Toulouse set-up is former Connacht centre Pita Ahki. He is a glue-like figure whose physicality is important, while he passes well under pressure.
Leinster Plus Ça Change Romain N'tamack Toulouse
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