Toulouse head to Lyon on Saturday still reeling from a Champions Cup collapse that has left their hopes for a favourable Investec Champions Cup run-in, in ruins.

The record six-time champions surrendered a commanding 21-0 half-time lead to lose 28-21 at Glasgow last weekend, a defeat that has badly damaged their hopes of securing a favourable knock-out path – and a coveted home semi-final – in the competition.

MORE: Toulouse docked points, fined

With Pool 1 now finely poised at the halfway mark, Toulouse sit third and cannot afford further slip-ups as trips to Saracens and a home clash against Sale loom in January.

England flanker Jack Willis did not mince his words when reflecting on the second-half implosion in Scotland.

“After the first Glasgow try, we didn’t react well,” Willis told La Dépêche du Midi.

“We dropped our heads. That’s unacceptable.

“We have to bounce back quickly, because we don’t have time in the Champions Cup.

“We can’t lose another match if we want to go far in the competition.”

The 29-year-old has become a central figure at Stade Ernest Wallon since joining in 2022, earning the captaincy despite the presence of global stars such as Antoine Dupont, Thomas Ramos, Julien Marchand and Anthony Jelonch.

“Working in a squad with Julien, Thomas, Antoine and Anthony is great,” he said.

“We’re a squad that speaks well, that works hard on the field and I’m very proud to sometimes be captain of the club.”

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Saturday’s Top 14 trip to the Matmut Stadium comes amid off-field turbulence, with Toulouse recently handed a two-point deduction and a fine for a salary cap breach, a ruling that saw them slip behind Pau in the league standings.

The festive schedule offers little respite, with La Rochelle and Perpignan to follow before Europe resumes.

– AFP