Strength in depth the name of the game at the Millennium

RUGBY HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER-FINALS:Cardiff v Toulouse, Today 3.30pm, Millenium Stadium, Cardiff, Live on Sky Sports 2

GARETH THOMAS thought he had seen it all when he joined Toulouse in 2004.

He was then one of Wales’ senior internationals, about to be made captain, and had enjoyed a high-profile career with Bridgend, Cardiff and the Celtic Warriors.

Thomas, who is now 34, spent three seasons with the French giants. This afternoon he will start on the bench for the home side. Thomas played in the opening match at the Millennium Stadium, for Wales against South Africa, 10 years ago, and he appreciates that his next visit could be his last.

“Toulouse opened my eyes as a player and as a person,” Thomas said. “I returned to Wales 10 times better for the experience. In Toulouse, you immersed yourself in the culture of the place. The rugby team is a massive part of the city and generates a real passion, but there is also far more to Toulouse.

“I learned not only to respect the history of the club but also the area and I soon came to appreciate buildings and structures. It freed up my mind completely and my time there was a life-changing experience, making me realise how fortunate I was.”

Thomas is among the Blues replacements having recovered from injury and illness, and if a feature of the French club over the years has been the quality of its bench (Yannick Nyanga, David Skrela and Clement Poitrenaud are among its occupants this afternoon), the Blues have developed a comparable strength in depth and six of their substitutes, including the Wales number eight Andy Powell, are internationals.

“I am delighted we are playing Toulouse rather than, like the Ospreys, Munster,” said Thomas. “The beauty of the Heineken Cup is meeting teams from a different league. I am just delighted to be involved and the important thing for the boys is not to be overawed.

“We have to be bold and believe in ourselves. They are good, but so are we and we are playing in our own backyard.”

This afternoon’s crowd for the meeting between the Blues and the bluebloods of Europe will edge past 30,000, making it the biggest for a Welsh club game, beating the 27,114 who saw Gloucester lose here earlier in the season.

A look at the two sides’ three-quarter lines shows why the game is such a hot ticket. Toulouse are without the France prop Benoit Lecouls, who has a neck injury, but Poitrenaud returns, after injury, to the bench.

Guardian Service

CARDIFF BLUES:B Blair; L Halfpenny, T Shanklin, J Roberts, T James; N Robinson, J Spice; G Jenkins, G Williams, T Filise, B Davies, P Tito (capt), M Molitika, M Williams, X Rush. Replacements: J Yapp, T R Thomas, D Jones, A Powell, R Rees, C Sweeney, G Thomas.

TOULOUSE:M Medard; V Clerc, F Fritz, Y Jauzion, C Heymans; F Michalak, B Kelleher; D Human, W Servat, S Perugini, F Pelous, P Albacete, J Bouilhou (capt), T Dusautoir, S Sowerby. Replacements: A Vernet Basualdo, Y Montes, G Lamboley, Y Nyanga, D Skrela, M Kunavore, C Poitrenaud.

Referee:C White (England).