Frank ,I think you underestimate the Toulouse lads ,they area decent team,as for the food?You know I'm a Green Lane Chippy Clown, have a good trip,see you for the Fev game.

You will but I don't understand your reasoning about Toulouse as the teams they have played up to now are hardly outstanding.

you can only beat whats in front of you

Does anyone have any kind of idea what sort of crowds they get? Might be a factor, particularly after longer travel than you're used to.

[url=http://www.accuweather.com/en/fr/toulouse/135244/weekend-weather/135244Wet, warm and humid[/url over there all weekend too, fwiw. Not exactly cracking the flags but a lot warmer than it is here right now.

edit: Even [url=http://www.to13.com/league-one-to-xiii-2016/their site[/url doesn't list their crowds. What the hell is wrong with reporting crowd sizes this year? Nobody is doing it.

Reportedly TO’s current average attendance is 2,500 (2015)

[url=http://www.rugbyleagueplanet.com/rlp-nations/france/2299-league-1-not-the-answer-for-french-rugby-league-team-toulouseHere[/url

Thanks for that. That's pretty damn good if it's persisted into this year. Sounds like it could lift a bit with locals on the strength of your visit too.

edit: And for anyone who is visiting, three words: magret du canard. Seriously, check it out! But go easy. It killed Jack London.

Only Wrath Brow Hornets have not been thrashed by them so far, but they have yet to play any of the Top 8 clubs in Championship 1.

If Leigh stick to their structure, we should win.

I remember when we played Limoux and we only just scraped that, and the last trip we had to Toulouse, they gave us a pasting !!!

If we get turned over, it would not surprise me one bit but as already stated, Leigh have the best pack outside of SL by some distance and we should have too much for them.

Toulouse 24, Leigh 44

Our last trip to Toulouse was actually a convincing win for Leigh, however your points are valid none the less. I expect a very tough encounter this time around.

Can i have a bet Ian and you give me -16? Swinton and Oldham beat the same teams that Toulouse have beaten so far this season by more last year.....

Ste ,I'm expecting a hard game my 16 point prediction also said I would be pleasantly surprised if we get more,in other words I want us to win by more than 16.The way my tipping is going we may well do so, I'm currently watching the Racing ,at Newmarket and Cheltenham, and not doing well here also,I will decline your offer, as I want us go win by a big margin.

No worries pal, not seen any racing today. Anything good gone in?

Leigh 19 man squad:

Worthington, Higson, Kay, Ridyard, Weston, Spencer, Pownall, Paterson, Maitua, Acton, Higham, Emmitt, Hopkins, Hock, Armstrong, Foster, Harper, Reynolds, Whiting

No Lee Smith in the team. Must be injured? Pownall back after a few weeks out injured so I guess he will be playing at Full Back.

Still no Moimoi, Hansen, Chase or Tonga.

No Liam Hood, Lewis Foster back into the 19.

Whiting must have been given the all clear to play in the Cup matches now he is staying for the rest of the year which is a nice bonus!

I'd go with:

Pownall
Higson
Worthington
Armstrong
Kay
Ridyard
Reynolds
Emmitt
Higham
Weston
Hock
Maitua
Paterson

Bench:
Foster
Hopkins
Acton
Whiting

I've backed 2 winners up to now Jadaayil in the first at Newmarket and Magical Memory in the 3.55 at Newmarket, both 3-1 ,I've backed a couple of Nick Henderson at Cheltenham but they finished nowhere,at the moment I'm losing but not much, I've got Mutamakkin and Yattwee in the last 2 races at Newmarket.Foundation has just been beaten in the Craven Stakes but it was odds on.

No passports,or do they need em?

I agree the aggressive defence of our forwards is something the Toulouse players will not have experienced so far. They have been scoring from very early on in matches and stopping this is crucial to put them off their stride. This will be a very tough match and I think the score will be very close.

They struggled against WB Hornets in heavy going only 20-14 with 10 mins to go. Besides the quick full back and wingers they have 3 French and Tonga internationals. TO were showing video clips of Leigh players all week including Gaz giving Bentley a bit of extra attention at PTB in World Cup. Their Twitter feed will be giving a running report @TOXIII
There's a translate option on each entry but you have to open each one.


On radio manc last night Derek said only had 18 fit due to a bug.

What time is the kick off? BBC stating 16-00, Ladbrokes cc site stating 17-00 GMT..Toulouse is an hour ahead of GMT.

We're an hour ahead of GMT

So what time in British Summer Time is the kick off?

Very confused

4pm kick off Leigh Time

Am in Culcheth is that different?

OHHHHH Yes , most definitely

The facts:

1. Toulouse have had one game in 3 weeks against a weak side, Scorpions. Fitness will be an issue.

2. All their games have been against weak sides, and they have only had 5 games so far, Wath Brow, Coventry, Hemel , Scorpions and Gloucester, who put 28 points on them in the previous round. Defence only tested once by Glos. This time around they are not prepared - they haven't even played better League 1 sides like Rochdale, Barrow, Keighly and York yet - to see how they scrub up.

3. Toulouse loose concentration for phases and have not demonstrated fightback ability. Good sides like Leigh will punish that.

4. This side has the 2nd best French players in France, next to Catalans. They thumped Catalans reserves in previous years, always; and Warrington last year [ semi reserves - but they had form being in the French Elite with strong opponents [ low Championship standard like Lezignan, Carcassonne etc. Form has not been tested this season.

5. If they were fit and match hardened, then i would expect there to be a 20 point difference in favor of Leigh. With form going in, they are likely mid Championship standard. But they are not at this moment.

4. Leigh do not need to break out a sweat - even when they go behind, they are a crack outfit and have proven they do not know how to loose at this level.

I predict an open game, the boys get the turn up time wrong with time difference, they have a hangover from drinking too much red the night before, the boys throw handbags and 5 are sent off - down to 8, the ref is paid by an Indian bookmaker to disallow all Leigh tries.

Weather is cloudy with occassional showers. Perfect temperature in the evening. Conditions perfect.

Easy, easy. Enjoy the wine and hospitality guys.

Tomorrow, 2.30am in Culcheth.