Not only did Toulouse lose their final match before the key Heineken Cup semi-final wirh London Irish, but two of thier international stars failed to complete the match due to injury
London Irish's hopes of lifting the Heineken Cup this season were given a considerable boost when semi-final opponents Toulouse picked up two notable injuries in their 23-11 home defeat to Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14 on Saturday.
The Heineken Cup's joint leading try scorer, French wing Vincent Clerc, is almost certainly ruled out of next Saturday's Twickenham Stadium last four shoot-out after being carried off on a stretcher with a knee injury.
His five tries this season have helped Clerc to steer three-times winners Toulouse into their eighth European semi-final and have moved him into second place in the tournament's all-time try rankings with 27.
Clerc injured his left knee when trying to sidestep his fellow French wing Aurelien Rougerie in the 63rd minute of his side's shock home defeat in front of a 35,000 sell-out crowd at Le Stadium.
Not only did Clerc damage his knee, but he lost the ball and surrendered a try to Rougerie as the visitors picked up a major victory on the road.
As if defeat and Clerc's worrying knee injury weren't bad enough, Toulouse also lost international flanker Thierry Dusautoir with a knock to the head after only three minutes.
London Irish meet Toulouse at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday with a place in the final on 24 May at stake.
Tickets available from Ticketmaster.co.uk
