Toomua praised ahead of Leicester debut

Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 10:55 PM
AAP
by AAP
Matt Toomua will debut for Leicester this weekend. Photo: Getty Images
Matt Toomua will debut for Leicester this weekend. Photo: Getty Images

Leicester boss Richard Cockerill has described Wallabies playmaker Matt Toomua as "a great footballer" as the former Brumbies star prepares to make his Tigers debut.

Toomua will line up at centre for a testing European Champions Cup pool one opener against Glasgow at Scotstoun on Friday, with a fiercely-tough group also including French title holders Racing 92 and two-time kings of Europe Munster.

"There aren't many second chances in Europe and we need to get something out of Friday night, so we need our best players available," Cockerill said.

"Matt is a top-quality player. He makes everything look very easy, and there is no substitute for quality. He has only been here a short period of time, but he's a great footballer and he learns quickly.

"Any points in Europe, especially away from home, are vital, and this is not the easiest European pool in which to win away matches, is it? There are no games where you think, 'oh, we will go there and win'.

"If we do go and win at Scotstoun, or against Munster or Racing 92 away later in the campaign, it will be a very good day at the office."

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