Easter returns with point to prove as Harlequins target Toulouse win

Published on Friday 16 October 2009 22:54

NICK Easter is determined to unleash a week's worth of frustration on Toulouse today, after being forced to miss Harlequins' Heineken Cup defeat against Cardiff Blues.

The England No8 could have punched the television as he sat at home watching helplessly as Harlequins hammered away at the Blues line but could not convert their chances. Easter and England colleagues Danny Care and Ugo Monye all had to rest as part of the agreement with the Rugby Football Union before the autumn internationals. But all three are back in action at the Twickenham Stoop today, and Easter has warned Toulouse they will face a Harlequins side with a point to prove.

"Heineken Cup games are the biggest games of the year, and unfortunately we had to play last week with one hand tied behind our back," said Easter. "Even then the guys were unlucky not to get a draw. They scored the late try, and we lost the bonus point. It was very, very frustrating. I was sitting at home screaming at the television and pulling my hair out – but I don't think we have lost any momentum from last week. There has been a buzz about training this week, because Toulouse are synonymous with this competition – and we have a chance to put it right in our own backyard."

The Cardiff Blues defeat encapsulates neatly Harlequins' start to the season – they created a host of good chances and were arguably the better team, but still lost. Today, Harlequins face a Toulouse side featuring Vincent Clerc, who became the leading try-scorer in the Heineken Cup last week as the French giants put an under-strength Sale Sharks side to the sword.

While Harlequins are naturally wary of Toulouse's attacking potential, they also view it as a great opportunity to finally unleash their own high-tempo rugby.

Leicester and Saracens have both won at The Stoop this season by strangling the life out of the game, but Quins believe Toulouse's style could suit them down the ground.

"Toulouse are a typical French team. If the opportunity is on they will try it – and even if it is not they will give it a go," said winger David Strettle. "We are just waiting for our boys to get a chance to run – and if they give us the opportunity to play they should be just as wary of us as we are of them."

The one English team who have been playing ruthless attacking rugby this season is London Irish. But last week the Exiles proved they can also tough it out, with a 12-9 victory over defending champions Leinster. There were some typically vivid celebrations that night in Dublin, but scrum-half Paul Hodgson insists there will be no complacency when London Irish tackle the Scarlets today.

"It was a big game, and our excitement showed afterwards – but we have won nothing. We have five more games, and the Scarlets are a very good team who beat Brive last week," said Hodgson.

Ryan Lamb returns at fly-half for London Irish, who rest flanker Steffon Armitage as part of the England agreement – while Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies and full-back Dan Evans both passed a fitness tests yesterday.

Leinster travel to Brive this weekend, knowing they can ill afford a second defeat – while Munster, beaten in an epic battle at Northampton, play host to Perpignan's conquerors Treviso.

Injury-hit Gloucester have put Jake Boer straight on to the bench for their trip to Biarritz, after re-signing their former captain on an emergency short-term deal.

Leicester were down to just 24 fit players for their 32-32 draw against the Ospreys, and so head coach Richard Cockerill has kept changes to a minimum.

Lock Geoff Parling will make his first start, and Cockerill has rotated the props but kept the back division unchanged – meaning a second start for last week's star performer Billy Twelvetrees.