Cardiff relying on Barbarians boost ahead of Toulouse tie

Cardiff Blues boss David Young is banking on a Barbarians factor to help his team in their tough Heineken Cup assignment against Toulouse.

If the Blues are to repeat last season's stirring victory over their revered French opponents, then Young will need his star names firing on all cylinders.

But three of them - Jamie Roberts, Leigh Halfpenny and Andy Powell - are fresh from achieving what few northern hemisphere players can boast these days - beating the All Blacks.

The Wales international trio featured when the Baa-baas toppled New Zealand 25-18 at Twickenham last Saturday, and they are set to start in tomorrow's Cardiff City Stadium Pool Five showdown.

"It is always special to beat New Zealand, and they are going to come back with a little bit of confidence," said Young.

"With the Welsh players coming back this week (from international duty) we are starting to look like the team we were last season.

"We have not been playing like we want to play, but this is the time we need to come together. We know we can't leave it any longer."

The Blues downed three-time European champions Toulouse at the quarter-final stage last term, and another win is vital to keep Young's men in last-eight contention.

Cardiff's fellow Welsh region, the Scarlets, can take a firm grip on Pool Six tomorrow night if they defeat Heineken Cup holders Leinster, while London Irish will fancy their chances away to struggling Brive in the same group.

Scotsman Bryan Redpath knows he can mastermind Glasgow's Heineken Cup demise when his Gloucester team arrive north of the border tonight.

And the former Scotland international scrum-half insists national loyalties cannot be allowed to interfere.

"I am a Scotsman through and through, and just because I work in England doesn't mean I haven't the same passion to see the country do well," said Redpath.

"But I want to qualify for the quarter-finals - loyalty stops when your job is on the line.

"I know what it's like as a Scotsman playing against an English side. They will be hugely switched on, with a chance to scalp us.

"It means a lot to me going up there - I am not going up there to lie down."

Flanker Peter Buxton will captain a Gloucester team that also includes England number eight Luke Narraway for his first start of the season, while Carlos Spencer lines up at full-back instead of Olly Morgan.

Pool One leaders Munster entertain Perpignan tonight, with skipper Paul O'Connell admitting: "Our form is probably a bit of a concern."

Munster are currently one point above the reigning French champions in the tightest of all this season's groups, so far.

"We would rather be playing great rugby, rather be flying along in the Magners League," said O'Connell.

"I don't think the lads underestimate this game, or the task they face.

"Perpignan are a very strong side, French champions last season, so it is a great game for us to get back on the horse again."

Any slip-up from Munster could see Northampton move top of the group if, as expected, they put away Franklin's Gardens visitors Treviso in bonus point fashion tomorrow.