Toulouse play down rugby Top 14 'favourites' tag

Toulouse have played down their "favourites" tag for the Top 14 final against Montpellier at the Stade de France on Saturday, which brings an end to the French domestic rugby union season. Montpellier have enjoyed an astonishing run to the final, nipping Castres 18-17 in the play-off, and then edging much-vaunted Racing-Metro 26-25 in the semi-finals, while Toulouse were easy 29-6 victors over Clermont in their last-four game. "We don't go along with that," Toulouse coach Guy Noves said of the favourites tag. "A final is a festival and we're just very happy to take part in this festival." Noves, in his 11th final, praised his counterparts at Montpellier, Fabien Galthie and Eric Bechu, who have overseen the transformation of the southern club this season. "They brought in some soul and confidence to a group of players that has shown itself capable of great results with the right handlers in place," Noves said. He added: "What we want is to try and play intelligently by adopting our rugby into a modern form of rugby in a bid to get results. "This season, Montpellier have progressed massively in their variety and in their game, producing a lot (of opportunities)." France outside-half Francois Trinh-Duc, who made his senior debut for Montpellier back in 2005, said that the arrival of Bechu and former France captain Fabien Galthie, who played under the former at Colomiers in the 1990s, had been the spark the side required. "Our mental approach had always been very good, there was an excellent spirit here even though we flirted with relegation last season," said Trinh-Duc. "But they introduced an ambitious game plan, a routine which allowed us to work both individually and collectively in terms of discipline, the strategy, the nitty gritty. Now we are more proactive." With Trinh-Duc and captain Fulgence Ouedraogo having come in for criticism for not having shown enough ambition to move to another club when Montpellier were scrapping a relegation battle last season, one former player who did make the move insisted he had no regrets. No 8 Louis Picamoles left his team-mates on the Mediterranean coast to join Toulouse, but has not been shocked by his former club's rise. "Few people thought Montpellier capable of getting so far but it doesn't surprise me, someone who has been following the club for several seasons," Picamoles said. "I've seen them progress still more this season. They've put in some massive performances on several occasions. They've got a good dynamic going since their win over Toulon, then Castres and Racing." Picamoles added: "I well understand that Toulouse are the big favourite for the final thanks to their previous honours, but all our titles won't count for much come Saturday night. "The sole truth is that shown on the pitch and if we're stronger, we must prove it." Toulouse's Argentinian lock Patricio Albacete concurred with Picamoles, saying: "If Montpellier find themselves in the final, they deserve to be there. A final is a match apart."