Toulouse vs Harlequins Predictions: Joué in the south of France

The second Champions Cup semi-final will see the five-time winners of this prestigious European competition, Toulouse, face up against a Harlequins side making their a Semi-Final debut appearance in this competition.

Our rugby union expert Alex Cox has previewed Sunday's (15:00)massive contest and shared his Toulouse vs Harlequins predictions. 

Toulouse are heavy favourites due to their all-court game blending forward power and magical back-play. Dupont and Ntamack will be pulling the strings and marshalling Toulouse around the park to put them in positions to strike. Harlequins are not known for their defence, so there will certainly be chances for the French side to pick up points.

Harlequins are embracing their underdog status and have often produced their finest moments once they have been written off, with Bordeaux the most recent example. Quins are well aware that they will not stand a chance in this game if they take penalty kicks at goal, they will be trying to outscore Toulouse. With Marcus Smith at the helm, he will move the ball to space and get his strike runners on the ball. This inevitably will open up the game and create chances for both sides and I am interested how much Toulouse indulge the madness or whether they will try to keep phases a little narrower.

Team News

Toulouse

There aren’t many club sides in world rugby that can name 14 Internationals in their starting side, but that’s what Ugo Mola has been able to do this weekend, meaning it’s a monster pack and champagne-rugby backs that await Harlequins this weekend. Baille, Mauvaka and Aldegheri are the front-row trio, with Flament and Meafou in the engine room behind them. Cros and Roumat will be alongside Englishman Willis in the back-row.

Dupont and Ntamack will be pulling the string from half-backs, the former had a mid-season stint with France 7’s and has returned for the business end of the club season. Defensive maestro Akhi will be at inside center with the flamboyant youngster Costes outside him. Lebel and Mallia are on the wings, with Scottish International Kinghorn preferred over Ramos at full-back – meaning the Frenchmen will be on the bench.

Harlequins

Billy Millard has backed the same side that picked up a crucial bonus point win against Northampton at Twickenham last weekend and chosen not to make any changes for this contest. Baxter, Walker and Collier are arguably the most underrated front-row in European rugby and will be aiming to replicate the damage they inflicted on Bordeaux a weeks ago. Hebst and the wily Lewies will be in the second-row, with Cunningham-South, Evans and Dombrandt as the back-row trio.

Care and Smith continue as half-backs, although Porter is kicking at Care’s heels for a start. Esterhuizen and Northmore will be in the midfield, the latter is finally back from injury and showed his class with a superb two-try performance at Twickenham last week. The acquainted back-three of Murley, Lynagh and Green will attempt to contain the Toulouse wide players and inflict some damage of their own.

Harlequins over 22.5 @ 20/21

Harlequins games as of late have been quite frankly, bonkers. Their last five games have seen an average of 70 points and with their strategy of just trying to outscore the opposition embedded deep within their DNA, I can’t see a different scenario playing out in this game.

Quins will gift points for Toulouse to take, but Harlequins will find opportunities themselves and they have the belief and skill to convert.

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