I was contacted by the Examiner a couple of days before the fifth round of the 2018/19 Champions Cup. Could I write something ‘on Toulouse and how they’re turning things around’ for a preview piece in the paper on the day of the big game against Leinster that weekend.
As it turned out, Leinster dished out something of a painful lesson, but even that can’t detract from the turnaround under Ugo Mola – and this is its three-years-in-the-making story… There’s a long road ahead before the catch the defending champions, but they’re heading in the right direction…
Leinster fans – for one match at least – may not agree, but one of the great joys of European rugby this season has been the resurgence of Toulouse as a major force.
James Harrington: Freelance sports journalist 