Toulouse look to wrap up last-eight in European Cup rugby

Four-time European Cup champions Toulouse must win their final Pool Six match against Gloucester on Friday if they are to ensure they progress to the knockout stages. It is what Toulouse's legendary manager Guy Noves has termed their "match of the first half of the season", and with second-placed Harlequins playing bottom side Connacht, the French champions cannot afford to slip-up in Gloucester. Toulouse lead Harlequins by two points going into the game but it is their 31-24 home defeat by the English side that has left them in this somewhat precarious position. Despite Friday's opponents being out of contention, Noves is not taking the win for granted. Defeat and a Harlequins win would see them finish second and hope to fill one of the best two runners-up spots allocated for the last eight. "It is without doubt the match of the first part of the season," said the 57-year-old, who has guided Toulouse to their four European Cup victories as well as nine league crowns since taking over in 1989. "If we win, we qualify for the quarter-finals. We made this 'match for the last 16' possible by beating Connacht last weekend. "When you have such high ambitions as we do at Toulouse, to go far in the European Cup, you have to beat the best teams. We are going to Gloucester in this spirit. This is a challenge worthy of our ambition." Noves, who enjoyed a stellar playing career with Toulouse that also brought him seven France caps, said they only had themselves to blame for the situation they found themselves in. "The Harlequins defeat has put us where we are now, after we had won the previous three games, including (Harlequins) on their own turf. "We were well set and then we made life complicated for ourselves. Now, to be honest, and even if I would have preferred to have already qualified, I must also acknowledge that I am happy to experience the buzz surrounding this match. "I don't see Gloucester as rolling over for us because they are out of the competition. "In fact that means they have no pressure on them and nothing to lose, and with a strong set of players they can cause us problems and will be desperate to end their campaign with a significant scalp." Noves could have to do without several first-choice players because of injury, including France wing Vincent Clerc (knee) and centre Florian Fritz (knock), but he will wait until the last minute to decide whether they travel or not. Toulouse and Harlequins will fill at least one of the six places still up for grabs for the last eight after holders Leinster and fellow Irish province and two-time champions Munster booked theirs last weekend. Toulouse's predecessors as French champions, Clermont, face a must-win match on Saturday at home to Ulster, who are on 19 points and lead their opponents by three points. A win for the hosts could still see Ulster go through as one of the best second-placed teams. The tightest battle is in Pool Two, where Cardiff Blues and Edinburgh enter their final games on Sunday tied on 17 points and entertain already eliminated Racing-Metro and London Irish respectively.