 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  | |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  | |  |
Top European coaches are lining up to back Toulouse to win the eighth Heineken Cup final on May 24...
CONOR O'SHEA (London Irish)
"I think Toulouse will win. We played them twice this year, and I think they have more threats. The two packs are quite evenly matched, but I just think that Toulouse are a team full of big-match players. And this is the Heineken Cup final, which has a tradition in that club.
"I think on the day it will be quite a comfortable win. They just have too many game breakers.
**ERC AUDIO click here
"You look at the likes of Clerc, Garbajosa, Michalak, Ntamack, Poitrenaud, they have a team of stars. Upfront they have Callazo, who is an outstanding prop, then there is Bru at hooker, Pelous the skipper in the second row - there is class the whole way through the team.
"Perpignan have proven their worth to get to the final. They had outstanding results at home against Gloucester and Munster in the Pool stages, although I think Leinster really under-performed in the semi-final. "
JO MASO (France Team Manager and former Perpignan player)
"I am split - I am from Perpignan but Toulouse are our best team at the moment.
"The head goes with Toulouse, the heart with Perpignan. However, it is a one-off occasion and Perpignan can do it - that is what makes it a fascinating match.
"And Perpignan will not go to Dublin to make up the numbers, they have a great team spirit and they will give it everything."
DEAN RICHARDS (Leicester Tigers)
"My tip would be Toulouse. I think they have more of a balanced side than Perpignan, and their backs can be deadly as well.
"If things start to go their way, then they have the ability to carve up the Perpignan side. The half-backs for Toulouse are very strong and dangerous - mind you, Manny Edmonds hasn't done too badly this year.
**ERC AUDIO click here
"I think the confrontations up front will be pretty even. A lot will depend on how the referee handles the game. I think Perpignan got away with a lot in the semi-final, but saying that, they played to the limits of the referee and I thought they did very well."
PETER THORBURN (Bristol Shoguns)
"I think Toulouse will win because they are probably more skilled right through their team. Perpignan played tremendously in their semi-final, but they looked to be doing it on passion.
**ERC AUDIO click here
"I don't mean to say they are an unskilled team. They have a very strong forward pack, without a lot of 'name' players. But what they did do they did on passion, and I think they could do that again.
"But I think, just looking at the playing strengths of each side, Toulouse has a higher profile playing side. Whether they can produce that away from home in a game like the Heineken Cup final, only time will tell.
"The player who impressed in the semi-final was Elissalde. He just looked something special and different."
