Toulouse Confident Ahead of Champions Cup Final Showdown with Leinster
Powerhouse second-row Emmanuel Meafou insists that French giants Toulouse “like our chances” in the upcoming Investec Champions Cup final against Irish province Leinster.
Toulouse have enjoyed another impressive campaign, currently topping the Top 14 table and riding a wave of four successive victories heading into the marquee European event. Under the guidance of head coach Ugo Mola, the team has showcased spellbinding rugby, blowing away Exeter Chiefs in the quarter-finals before proving too strong for Harlequins in the semi-finals.
Meafou acknowledges the “expectation” that comes with Toulouse’s rich history of success, stating that anything less than a convincing victory is unacceptable. > “When there’s a loss, or even if there’s a bad performance in a good result, people are not happy. We’re expected not just to win but win convincingly, that’s always the bar, and we set it high.”
While Toulouse’s recent record against Leinster has been poor, with the Irish side winning the past four meetings, Meafou believes his team has evolved and is now better equipped to challenge their formidable opponents. > “We’re a different team from three years ago, four years ago, and we just keep getting better. So we like our chances.”
A key feature of Toulouse’s game under Mola has been their attacking prowess, with every player boasting exceptional skills and comfort with the ball in hand. Meafou, a France international, credits this attacking philosophy as part of the club’s DNA, dating back to the youth levels. > “They are encouraged to play that brand of rugby, and when it sticks it sticks, and that’s something that we train on, and it’s been working well for us.”
As Toulouse prepare to take on Leinster in the highly anticipated Champions Cup final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Meafou and his teammates are brimming with confidence, eager to add another European title to the club’s trophy cabinet.
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