Toulouse fear Jones

THE coach of French side Toulouse, Guy Noves, yesterday singled out Cardiff's line out expert Derwyn Jones as a major threat in Sunday's European Cup final.

The French champions have identified the towering Jones as a danger to their hopes of victory at the National Stadium and are worried that Cardiff's overall superiority in the line-outs will provide them with a major headache.

Noves said: "In every match we have worries about our line-out. Cardiff have a very good line-out indeed, especially with Jones, and that will be a big challenge for us.

Noves believes that Cardiff's array of 14 internationals will provide his team with their biggest test in the tournament so far.

He added: "As a team, Cardiff are very formidable, very well organised and excellent at winning ball.

"They have a small advantage playing at Cardiff Arms Park and winning the final in Wales would be a very big success for Toulouse."

The inaugural European competition failed to attract clubs from England or Scotland but Noves insisted: "The tournament has attracted a lot of attention in France and we regard it as very, very important."

Another factor that could work against the French is the weather and they were unhappy to see overcast and damp conditions on their arrival in Cardiff.

Toulouse skipper Emile N'Tamack, the inspirational French international wing, admitted: "The weather is a worry. The only style we play, at Toulouse is to move the ball.

But on a more positive note, he added: "The four players injured in the semi-final against Swansea last Saturday are fit and we are ready-to meet a very good Cardiff side in which I consider every player a dangerman."

Toulouse have made just one change from the team who beat Swansea 30-3, with international Philippe Carbonneau recovered from a leg injury relegating Eric Artiguste to replacement duty.

Cardiff have named the same team that beat Leinster in Dublin in the other semi-final.