Roussow blow for Toulon European hopes

Toulon have suffered a setback before Sunday's European Cup quarter-final against Leicester after losing South African second row forward Danie Rossouw with a broken toe. The Top 14 leaders have called up Nick Kennedy as a replacement, while hooker Jean-Charles Orioli, who was in the 26-man squad, also misses out due to knee injury, with Sebastien Bruno coming into the front row. But there was better news for Toulon as New Zealand wing Rudi Wulf, who had been doubtful with a thigh injury, has recovered and will be in the starting line-up with David Smith standing down. Mathieu Bastareaud is preferred to Maxime Mermoz at centre alongside Matt Giteau, in a side captained by England's World Cup-winning fly half Jonny Wilkinson. Another Englishman in the Toulon line-up, former London Irish flanker Steffon Armitage, believes that Leicester are "opponents just like any other", even though he has a personal quest for revenge. He and his brother Delon, along with Nick Kennedy, were in the London Irish side which lost 10-9 to the Tigers in the 2009 English Premiership final. "That affected me personally," he said. "It is a defeat that remains engraved on my memory, so I have revenge in mind." He added: "I can feel the supporters are really behind us, it's the first time we've played a quarter-final at home, so it's huge for them and for us. We want to put in a massive performance to thank them for their backing." Armitage insisted: "We're expecting a very physical game but also a very tactical one. At this stage of the competition, it can all hinge on small details." From: AFP