Bristol braced for tough test against fired-up Toulon

Published on Thursday 16 October 2008 21:45

BRISTOL are ready to meet a fired-up Toulon side in today's European Challenge Cup match at the Memorial Stadium.

Toulon coach Tana Umaga fielded a second-string side against Northampton last week – and the wealthy French outfit were promptly smashed 56-3.

But Umaga's selection a week on has a sharper edge to it, led by big-money summer recruit Jerry Collins.

Bristol head coach Richard Hill said: "Toulon have invested in a lot of stars, but for some unknown reason last week against Northampton they decided to put out 'les espoirs', the hopefuls, and Northampton whipped them by 50 points.

"The (Toulon) president has obviously been a bit upset about that this week, and it looks as though they're bringing their full side.

"They do have some great individuals yet haven't quite gelled as a team in the Top 14 – but they have to be respected.

"We are desperate to get our first win of the season. The players have really stepped up their work, doing lots of theory and lots of practical as we look at every aspect of our game and see what we can do to improve it."

Pool One leaders London Irish head to Galway, knowing victory over Connacht would leave them in pole position for a quarter-final place. Exiles head coach Toby Booth makes a solitary change from the side that ran Rovigo ragged last Saturday, hooker James Buckland taking over from Danie Coetzee.

Irish blitzed Rovigo 78-3, scoring 12 tries, and Booth said: "Last Saturday, we showed how serious we are about the Challenge Cup and how we want to compete in it.

"Connacht also had the perfect start in the tournament last weekend – we know how difficult it is to win away in France (where Connacht beat Dax].

"Any team coached by Michael Bradley will provide a tough challenge, especially at home."

Today's Challenge Cup schedule is completed by Bourgoin hosting Petrarca in Pool Three, with Mont de Marsan at home to Pool Five rivals Bayonne.

Meanwhile, Sale Sharks forward Kristian Ormsby will miss his club's Heineken Cup showdown with European champions Munster on Sunday.

The 6ft 4in New Zealander has received a one-week suspension after appearing before a disciplinary panel in Dublin yesterday.

Ormsby was cited by match commissioner Achille Reali for alleged striking/dangerous charge on Clermont Auvergne lock Julien Pierre during Sharks' impressive Pool One victory in France last weekend.

The panel decided that Ormsby, a lock or back-row forward, was not guilty of striking, but that he committed a dangerous charge on Pierre.

His ban runs up until next Wednesday, sidelining him for the Edgeley Park appointment with Munster.