Easterby eyes tough Toulouse task

HEINEKEN CUP POOL SIX Ieuan Evans' Heineken preview Heineken Cup pool guide Toulouse v Scarlets news

Skipper Simon Easterby admits Llanelli Scarlets have a daunting Heineken Cup task to qualify from Pool Six against Toulouse, Wasps and Edinburgh.

"There is a lot of tough pools in the tournament, but Toulouse away in the first match couldn't come much tougher," said the Lions backrow.

"They are sometimes known as slow starters in the Heineken Cup.

"But they've started their season in France particularly well and I think they've only lost one game."

Toulouse are the defending champions, while English powerhouses Wasps lifted the trophy the previous season.

Edinburgh, meanwhile, are the strongest of the Scottish teams and recorded their first ever win at Stradey Park in this season's Celtic League opener.

Make no mistake, we know what we're up against Simon Easterby

"We owe them one for that," Easterby added. "But we won't play them until the second week, so let's get over to Toulouse and get a victory there first!

"It would give us a huge amount of satisfaction to progress through to the quarter-finals from this pool, but there's no easy games.

"Make no mistake, we know what we're up against but we're confident that we're building a bit of momentum and can compete against these sides."

Part of that growing confidence has come from the new-look Powergen Cup, which has seen the Scarlets record two encouraging wins over English opposition - Leeds and Newcastle.

"The Powergen has lifted the levels a little bit, as Welsh regions we always like to beat the English, but the standard was quite high and generally everyone is taking the tournament quite seriously.

"It sets us up nicely now going into the Heineken Cup and given us a lift.

"It'll give us an insight as to where we stand as a team and we're thoroughly looking forward to it."