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Silver rush

Image: Guy Noves

Three years without silverware is a lifetime in a club like Toulouse, can they end their dry spell this weekend?

Toulouse out to end three-year trophy drought

Toulouse have won three Heineken Cup trophies - the most recent three years ago. However that was the last time they won any silverware home or abroad, the longest dry spell in the Guy Noves era. However that is more motivation to become European Champions yet again. "To beat a team like Munster would be sensational," Toulouse scrumhalf Byron Kelleher told the Rugby Club. "The reason why is because they are such a well respected team. They have got international star athletes there and also to beat Dougie Howlett would be a great sensation for me." Like Munster, Toulouse are proud of their fans and draw strength from their community. "We are very linked to our supporters here," explained forwards coach Yannick Bru. "The club is in the heart of the city and plays an important part. We are linked to the history of Toulouse because the club won so many titles." The last time the final was played at the Millennium Stadium, Munster beat Biarritz as the Munster faithful turned Cardiff into a mini Thomond Park. However Toulouse are not too worried about the reception in Cardiff. "It is motivation for us," said Patricio Albacete. "It should be a great game, sometimes when you play with all the crowd against you, you become stronger so I hope that will be the case." The man who is the heartbeat of the club is head coach Guy Noves who has had 15 astonishing years at the club. Always on the touchline, Noves is constantly cajoling and inspiring his troops. "I don't like this attitude of sitting back and saying nothing," said Noves. " I don't like to feel like a spectator and I need to look the opposition in the eye to understand what is going on." "If I have something to say, I want to say it straight away. Walkie-talkies take too long, in this game things happen quickly and you need to react quickly. I think the coaches place is on the side of the pitch."

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