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Doussain starts at 10 against Munster as Toulouse go for beefy 6-2 bench split

The Top 14 side are clearly expecting a big battle up front in Thomond Park.

TOULOUSE HAVE NAMED France international Jean-Marc Doussain at out-half for tomorrow’s Champions Cup quarter-final clash with Munster at Thomond Park [KO 5.45pm, Sky Sports 2], with former All Black Luke McAlister kept in reserve.

Jean-Marc Doussain 22/1//2017 Doussain starts at out-half for Toulouse. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

Ugo Mola, the Toulouse boss, has gone for a 6-2 split of forwards and backs on his bench, indicating that the French side expect an attritional and intensely physical battle up front in Limerick.

Doussain partners France international Sébastien Bézy in the halfbacks, while the les Bleus-capped pair Gaël Fickou and Florian Fritz make up the centre partnership. Samoa international Paul Perez joins Maxime Médard and Yoann Huget in the back three.

23-year-old number eight François Cros is the only player in the Toulouse team without international honours, forming a back row along with captain Thierry Dusautoir – set to play in Thomond Park for the first time in his outstanding career – and the promising Yacouba Camara.

1 Stade Toulousain Stade Toulousain

Scotland’s Richie Gray and France’s Yoann Maestri make up the locking pairing, while Cyril Baille, Leonardo Ghiraldini and Census Johnston form a solid-looking front row that will look for an advantage at scrum time against an excellent Munster set-piece.

The likes of McAlister, Gurthrö Steenkamp and Joe Tekori will be asked to bring impact off the bench, while 21-year-old wing/fullback Arthur Bonneval is one to watch out for.

Toulouse (v Munster):

15. Maxime Médard
14. Yoann Huget
13. Gaël Fickou
12. Florian Fritz
11. Paul Perez
10. Jean-Marc Doussain
9. Sébastien Bézy

1. Cyril Baille
2. Leonardo Ghiraldini
3. Census Johnston
4. Richie Gray
5. Yoann Maestri
6. Thierry Dusautoir (captain)
7. Yacouba Camara
8. François Cros

Replacements:

16. Julien Marchand
17. Gurthrö Steenkamp
18. Dorian Aldegheri
19. Tala Gray
20. Piula Fa’asalele
21. Joe Tekori
22. Luke McAlister
23. Arthur Bonneval

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