Heineken Cup
Toulouse wary of Edinburgh showdown
ESPNscrum Staff
January 22, 2012
Toulouse head coach Guy Noves prepares for a game, Harlequins v Toulouse, Heineken Cup, Twickenham Stoop, England October 17, 2009
Toulouse boss Guy Noves' side will return to the site of their 2005 Heineken Cup triumph in this season's quarter-finals © Getty Images
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Toulouse coach Guy Noves was quick to heap praise on Scottish rivals Edinburgh after the two sides were paired together in the last eight of this season's Heineken Cup.

The French Top 14 giants will make their 13th appearance in the quarter-finals despite crashing to a shock 34-24 defeat to Gloucester in their final pool stage outing on Friday night while Edinburgh will grace the knockout stages for only the second time having secured their passage with a comprehensive victory over London Irish on Sunday.

Noves is under no illusion of the task facing his side if they are to keep their hopes of a fifth Heineken Cup crown alive. "Edinburgh are a complete team," he told ERCrugby.com. "I watched Edinburgh as a classic spectator during the pool games. Especially during the game Racing Metro in Paris, they were impressive, a complete rugby team.

"People think that Edinburgh have good backs but lack power with their forwards, but I disagree with that. When they played against the Racing Metro they had a good continuity and went through the phases and were very good at turnovers.

"And believe me the Racing has very powerful forwards. Those areas are the glue for every team. People see Toulouse as team which play open and attacking rugby and being very dynamic but we, like Edinburgh, have good continuity and go through the phases.

"Edinburgh really represent Scottish rugby well which is actually in a positive time at the moment. They have got better and better the last few years. I watched the game against London Irish without thinking that we could play against them in the quarter-finals, but now I will have to study them closer.

"Our goal was the qualification. All the quarter-finals finals are tough. Ours against Edinburgh will be very tough but we are very happy to be in the 8 best teams for the 13th time in the tournament.

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