It's Got To Be Heineken!

Since Toulouse lifted the Heineken Cup in 1996 they have competed in every European campaign.

But after two average seasons in their standards, joint captain Ntamack wants to 'take the bull by the horns' from the very first match

"The Hieneken cup start this weekend, so we have to be ready we have no option.

"We are not yet on top of the form we are capable of producing but we have begun to put our gameplan in place over our last two Championship games.

"We have to find the solution in order to beat London Irish on Saturday. We have been working on winning the ball, our scrum.

"Our possession of the ball must also improve to have better continuity in our play.

"Our objective is to get through the Pool stages. It would be true to say that the Stade Toulousain has the capacity to do well this year.

We have a full squad of players who should lift us to better things.

"Given the choice of winning the Heineken Cup or the French championship, I would definitely say the Heineken Cup.

"Our last victory goes back to 1996 whereas we have won the French championship many times.

"The differences between when the Heineken Cup started out and now are immense. The competition ahs become professional.

"The thing I remember most about that first year was our first game in Constantza, Romania - it was nothing like what we see today in terms of the organisation and the rigour we see today. The level of competition has improved enormously.

"The clubs have greatly reinforced their squads and today every team has a huge potential and a single objective - to win the tournament.

"The Heineken Cup has enabled an improvement in the level of club rugby, therefore the level of the championship.

"If the French clubs have difficulty competing against the English clubs like Leicester in the Heineken Cup, it may be because there are so many vital games in the French championship.

"We are looking at Saturday's match against London Irish like a knock-out match, a vital rendez-vous. To lose at home would automatically compromise our chances of qualification.

"We must take the bull by the horns and not harbour any doubts. We must do better than in previous years but the competition is fierce.

"Leicester are the big favourites once again. In France, Biarritz's game seems in place, at Toulouse we have to find our game.

"Noone can really know. Whatever the scenario, a French club at Lansdowne Road would be good.

Toulouse kick off their European campaign at home to English Cup winners London Irish this weekend.

Quotes taken from an interview by Myriam Perissat on rugbyrama.com