ARNSTORMING

Toulouse ace Richie promises that Leinster will meet a different French side to one blown away by Blues at same stage last year

- MICHAEL SCULLY

RICHIE ARNOLD watched on in Champions Cup frustration last year but insists there were no excuses as Toulouse went down tamely to Leinster at the Aviva Stadium.

The Australia international insists though that the Top 14 side are better for the defeat and stronger than they were 12 months ago as they seek to exact the perfect revenge on Leo Cullen's Blues.

It was all too easy for Leinster in that last four clash, with Antoine Dupont and the rest of the Toulouse stars failing to fire in a 40-17 defeat, even despite the classy scrum-half's early try against the run of play.

Arnold couldn't participate in that game, nor in the quarter-final the previous week against Munster at the same venue, due to a concussion.