Toulon v Northampton: Teams

At the Stade Felix Mayol, Thursday October 9, live on Sky Sports Xtra from 7.30pm

Last updated: 9th October 2008

Jim Mallinder Saints training

Mallinder: Ready for Toulon

Like ourselves, Toulon are a very ambitious club and the Challenge Cup is an important competition.

Jim Mallinder
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EUROPEN CHALLENGE CUP - LIVE
Watch Northampton take on Toulon live on Sky Sports Xtra from 7.30pm on Thursday.

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Northampton return to European action for the first time since their Heineken Cup semi-final defeat in 2007 to face a Toulon squad packed full of stars.

Toulon, who were promoted to the French top flight last season, have assembled a top-class side which includes All Blacks legend Jerry Collins, Australian international Matt Henjak and former rugby league star Sonny Bill Williams.

However, Saints will be relieved to know that trio have not been included in the match-day 22 for the Challenge Cup clash.

That said Toulon still have a hefty-looking team, with big powerful back-rows from Polynesia and the electric pace of Marc Andreu and youngster Clement Imbert on the wings.

"The standard of our European pool is extremely high, right up there with the Heineken Cup," Saints coach Jim Mallinder said.

"Toulon have a squad with plenty of international players and their coach, Tana Umaga, was one of the most respected All Blacks captains. Like ourselves, Toulon are a very ambitious club and the Challenge Cup is an important competition."

The Toulon crowd is also renowned for its passion and support, but Mallinder says that this will just add to the occasion.

"It will be a massive occasion, so the challenge for us is to keep calm and stick to our game plan, and put in plenty of hard work throughout the 80 minutes."

Northampton have named a strong-looking XV, with Ben Foden looking to impress at scrum-half and Chris Ashton keen to continue his fine form.

Toulon: 15 Sonny Falconetti, 14 Marc Andreu, 13 Olivier Grimaud, 12 Tusiata Pisi, 11 Clement Imbert, 10 Sébastien Fauque, 9 Anthony Giacobazzi, 1 Nicolas Agnesi, 2 Phillip Fitzgerald (c), 3 Davit Kubriashvili, 4 Yoann Maestri, 5 Jocelino Suta, 6 Soane Toevalu, 7 Thomas Sourice, 8 Fotunuupule Auelua.
Replacements: 16 Anthony Muleta, 17 Jérome Filitoga, 18 Sisaro Koyamaibole, 19 Olivier Missoup, 20 Luke Rooney, 21 Damien Vidal, 22 Orene Ai'i.

Northampton: 15 Bruce Reihana (c), 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Joe Ansbro, 12 James Downey, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Ben Foden, 1 Tom Smith, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 Euan Murray, 4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 5 Courtney Lawes, 6 Mark Hopley, 7 Scott Gray, 8 Roger Wilson.
Replacements: 16 Paul Shields, 17 Soane Tonga'uiha, 18 Matt Lord, 19 Ben Lewitt, 20 Lee Dickson, 21 Barry Everitt, 22 Paul Diggin.