EUROPEAN CUP/FOCUS ON TOULOUSE: Gerry Thornleyhears from coach Guy Noves, who is setting his side up as vengeful carriers of the French Tricolore

ON RETURNING from London last Saturday evening, the Toulouse forwards coach Yannick Bru expressed the hope Saracens would beat Munster in the following day's second Heineken Cup semi-final. His rationale, supposedly, was he would have much more work to do if they were to meet the Munster pack.

His wish wasn't granted as he and the rest of the coaching staff watched Sunday's semi-final unfold on television. Guy Noves, the head coach, declined to talk specifically about Munster's strengths and weaknesses, but maintained logic and form had been applied in the Ricoh Arena.

"Along with Leicester and Toulouse, Munster figured among the big favourites for the title," he said. "Given Munster's titles and experience, their victory was expected, as was ours the day before, and they managed to impose themselves on Saracens, which not everyone is capable of."

Swiftly indulging in mind games, and no doubt contrary to what he truly believes after guiding the Heineken Cup's only three-time winners to their fifth final in his 15-year stewardship, Noves then concluded, "Having grasped the title in 2006, they will be favourites in the final and we will be the outsiders.

"Of course, in 2003 we beat Munster in the semi-finals but by just a point," he acknowledged, in reference to their 13-12 win at home, "but that was in Toulouse and (Ronan) O'Gara missed a kick in the last minute."

Far more haunting, for Noves, is the memory of Munster arriving at Stade Chaban Delmas in Bordeaux in the semi-finals three years before and winning 31-25.

"The semi-final that I really remember is the one in 2000 in Bordeaux in which we underwent defeat to the Irish, who were supported by a huge crowd. Although we were hot favourites, an intercepted pass of (Jerome) Cazalbou had been a turning point in the match. Munster's great European adventure had begun with that match, which remains one of my worst memories.

"This time we will not let ourselves be lulled by the siren's song. Neither team will be terribly complex, but ours will still be handicapped as the Munster pack is that of the Irish team, the outhalf O'Gara is an exceptional game leader and the back line is rich in individuals, beginning with (Doug) Howlett."

For all the talking-up of Toulouse's opponents as favourites, Noves vows if they are to win the European Cup, Munster will have to earn it; not that they would remotely inclined to think differently themselves.

"I admit that with such references in front of me it will be less difficult for me to prepare for the match than it would have been against Saracens, who are less well known among the European elite," he said.

"I can say just one thing: if the Munster team is to become champions of Europe, it will be that they'll have truly earned it. For Toulouse, the final can only be a bonus. Either they become heroes by winning or defeat will be considered normal."

Setting himself and Toulouse as proud and vengeful carriers of the French Tricolore, Noves added, "Having avenged Perpignan against London Irish we shall try, all the same, to avenge Biarritz, who were punished by Munster on this same Cardiff pitch in the presence of 50,000 Irish supporters. I'm speaking of the real Biarritz, not today's one," he concluded, no doubt in a little dig at Basque rivals who are struggling to make the top four.

Although 10 points adrift of leaders Clermont, Toulouse are relatively well positioned in second place, with a 13-point buffer over fifth-placed Biarritz, thereby enabling Noves to rotate his squad to some degree. However, with so many frontliners hors de combat, Noves's options have been reduced in recent weeks.

They still have nine Top 14 games to play, so conceivably could have another 13 matches if they reach the French Championship final on June 28th. This would mean a 38-game club season on top of international commitments fully 13 months since their French contingent went into pre-season training for the World Cup.

Starting with the visit of Auch last night - a game they won handily, securing the four-try bonus 29 minutes in - they play Jeremy Davidson's Castres away next Wednesday before travelling to Montpellier next weekend and hosting Montauban the following weekend. Their game away to Perpignan, scheduled for the weekend of the European Cup final, also has to be rearranged.

As the broken thumbs sustained by the cruelly unfortunate Barry Murphy and Niall Ronan in Ravenhill last Wednesday night showed, neither finalists can wrap their squad in cotton wool between now and May 24th.

Against that, Toulouse's Fijian centre Maleli Kunavore and French prop Jean-Baptiste Poux are expected to be fit again in time for the final, while three months after breaking a leg, Florian Fritz returned for last night's game against Auch.

Fritz also extended his contract to the club until 2011, as has Italian prop Salvatore Perugini, while Byron Kelleher is mulling over a two-year extension to his current two-year deal and Fabien Pelous has rescinded his decision to retire by signing for another year.

Last week's couple of searing midfield breaks underlined the 34-year-old's brilliant form this season.

"Physically, I'm feeling good. I'm happy to carrying on for another year," Pelous told the French daily Dépêche du Midi. "I've been lucky not to be injured too often. In a way, my injury in the World Cup semi-final was beneficial because a month of inactivity allowed me recuperate."

France's most capped player of all time made it clear he would never consider playing elsewhere. "It was Stade Toulousain or nothing. My relationship with (club president) René Bouscatel and Guy Noves meant the deal was quickly settled, especially since the financial aspect wasn't a priority and I don't have an agent; I've only ever had one to commercialise my image, I've always wanted to remain master of my sporting choices."

In many ways, Toulouse could not have had a more problematic build-up to the semi-final win over London Irish, given the defeat to Clermont at home the previous week when Vincent Clerc joined Clement Poitrenaud on the injured list for the remainder of the season as a result of a horrendous knee injury. There was also the death of Thierry Dusautoir's father three days later.

"We strung together and didn't give up in the last 20 minutes," said Elissalde, who himself has been playing with a torn meniscus in his right knee. "After all the difficult moments of the previous week, it fills me with immense joy.

"Often there are more important things in life than rugby. We saw that this week with Thierry (whose father's funeral was attended my many Toulouse players) and in another way Vincent.

"That kind of thing builds strong bonds between us in the changing rooms. Perhaps a few months or a few years ago we wouldn't have won. This time we pulled it off. I'm very proud of my team-mates, really very proud.

"We've secured the club's fifth European final. It's extraordinary. I still can't believe it, maybe because I know where we've come from. It's a huge accomplishment. It's marvellous."