DONAL LENIHAN believes that Leinster can inflict 'severe damage' on French side Toulouse when the sides face each other in this weekend's Heineken Cup at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Toulouse have overcome two Irish sides in Munster and Ulster, but have not had it easy against both provinces.
The five-time champions beat Ulster by a single point in a two-legged tie after being given a lifeline after prop Tom O' Toole was sent off shortly after coming on.
They then beat Munster last week via a place kicking contest after the sides couldn't be separated via normal and extra time.
Lenihan believes that Leo Cullen's side will have too much for the French side this weekend.
Leinster have blown away every side they have faced in this year's competition, beating Connacht 82-41 on aggregate, Montpellier 89-7 in the group stages and Leicester Tigers 23-14 in the last round.
🏉 | 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗲! — Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) May 12, 2022
Relive our epic 2006 #HeinekenChampionsCup clash with Toulouse. 🤩 🔥
💺 | Secure your seat for Saturday here: https://t.co/UBeXhuV7XN#LEIvTOU Via @VMSportIE pic.twitter.com/wMeoME3iXW
"I think they will look at what Munster did on the defensive breakdown against Toulouse at the Aviva. Munster managed to secure 19 turnovers during the game, he said.
"If that Leinster back line can get anywhere near that, then I think they can do severe damage."
"It’s not going to be easy, but I think Toulouse don’t have Cheslin Kolbe anymore, the brilliant Springbok winger, and he won games on his own for them last year.
And I think that Toulouse are missing that x-factor at the moment.
Overall I just think Leinster; too strong, too smart, too experienced.
"They’ve been gearing up for Europe, it is where they want to win, they haven’t won since 2018, so I’m going with Leinster."
Racing 92 or La Rochelle will await the Irish side in the Stade Orange Velodrome in Marseille on 28 May, if Lenihan's prediction is right
