As expected, the mercurial former French out-half Christophe Deylaud has been declared fit to play his first game of the season against Leinster in tomorrow's European Cup tie at Donnybrook.
Indeed, the only notable absentees from an imposing looking Toulouse selection are winger Emile N'tamack and former Toulon out-half-cum-centre Yann Delaigue - the summer replacement for the departed Thomas Casteigneide. Deyalud is one of seven French internationals in their line-up, the others being fullback Stephane Ougier, loosehead Christian Califano, the newly-recruited Frank Tournaire, lock Hugues Miorin, flanker Sylvain Dispagne and their Dax capture, number eight Fabien Pelous.
Meanwhile, former England captain Will Carling returns to the Harlequins side for their European Cup opener against Munster on Sunday. Carling damaged a calf muscle at Northampton in the first English Premiership fixture of the season.
Coach Andy Keast said: "Will has made an amazing recovery. We expected him to be out for four weeks, but he has stood down for just one game - and we missed him badly when we lost to Bath last weekend."
Meanwhile, Fran Cotton is urging the four home unions to prepare to appoint his successor as Lions manager for the trip to Australia and New Zealand in 2000 immediately. "Such is the scope of the job in the new era that the four home unions committee should be considering likely candidates for the manager now," he said.
Toulouse: Sougier; M Marfaing, R Paillat, P Bondouy, X Garbojosa; C Deylaud, J Casalbou; C Califano, J Begue, F Tournaire, H Miorin, F Belot, D Lacroix, F Pelous, S Dispagne.
