Toulouse use 2008 final defeat as extra motivation

Published on Sunday 11 October 2009 23:26

BYRON Kelleher admits Toulouse are still smarting from their 2008 Heineken Cup defeat to Munster as they chase a fourth European title. The French giants opened their Pool Five account in style with a five-try, bonus-point home triumph over Sale Sharks (36-17).

However, All Black scrum-half Kelleher claimed the final defeat in Cardiff 17 months ago was spurring his team-mates on to creating further history.

"It was really important for us to start the Heineken Cup campaign with a real bang. We haven't been playing flamboyant rugby in recent weeks in the Top 14 but the cohesion was there and we played as a team rather than individuals.

"The majority of the team played in the final we lost to Munster and we were stung by that. We've learnt from that and we need to continue on a winning streak."

Sale were without several key players including Charlie Hodgson, Mark Cueto and skipper Dean Schofield, and three- quarter Ben Cohen believes the team will improve.

"We give 100 per cent but it was a really tough match for us because of the number of injuries we've had.

"It is difficult enough to compete with the likes of Toulouse at full strength but with the number of players missing, it was a bridge too far.

They have so much experience in their side and I'm sure the young lads will learn from the experience."

Leicester coach Richard Cockerill watched the injury-ravaged Tigers earn a pulsating 32-32 draw with the Ospreys and said: "You can buy a team but you can't buy spirit".

The Tigers had already been decimated by injury when the loss of four key players before kick-off forced Cockerill into a backline reshuffle. Ospreys surged into a 26-8 lead shortly before half-time with tries from Shane Williams and Tommy Bowe and a perfect kicking display from Dan Biggar, who scored 22 points.

But man of the match Billy Twelvetrees inspired the Tigers comeback, adding to Johne Murphy's early try with a score just before half-time. Argentinian winger Lucas Amorosino and Jeremy Staunton earned Leicester the four-try bonus point and Twelvetrees sealed the draw with a late conversion.

Cockerill said: "We had players unavailable and pulling out at the last minute. The attitude to just go out and play and not give up is what this side is about."

Twelvetrees was promoted into the side after Dan Hipkiss was ruled out and shone on his full debut for the Tigers.

"He missed a few kicks and tackles but held his nerve at the end to kick the conversion," said Cockerill.

The Tigers were forced to throw caution to the wind and ended up scoring more tries in 80 minutes than in their five Guinness Premiership games so far.

Leicester have not lost at home in over a year and the Ospreys left Welford Road kicking themselves after wasting a golden opportunity. "Our discipline at times was shocking," said Williams.

Northampton's director of rugby Jim Mallinder, meanwhile, hailed Shane Geraghty as "a special talent" after his fly-half set up a stunning 31-27 win over Munster at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday.

Geraghty scored 21 of the Saints' points and capped a superb performance in front of watching England manager Martin Johnson by stealing over for an opportunist try late in the first half when he tapped and ran a penalty that Munster expected him to kick to goal.