Toulon legacy will fire up Vermeulen
TOULON No.8 Duane Vermeulen is eager to send a statement in their Champions Cup opener against holders Saracens.
Sarries stole Toulon’s crown last season after the Cote D'Azur side had romped to three-straight European triumphs.
The French side can take a giant leap to regaining the Champions Cup in round one, when they welcome Mark McCall's men to Stade Felix Mayol in the Pool 3 curtain raiser.
The South Africa backrower said: "It will be very hard to start against Saracens, but there are no easy opponents in this competition and each team can compete for the title.
“It might even be good to start against the holders. We will be able to assess where we're at, measure up to what they do best and see if we can get to that level. We are outsiders, which is a good thing. We know where we want to go and we can’t wait to enter the competition."
Toulon then travel to Salford to face Sale before a double-header against the Scarlets and Vermeulen wants the new-look Toulon team to add to the legacy left by Jonny Wilkinson and Co.
He said: “It’s a really different team. Many players who won European titles are no longer here but they have left a legacy.
“We do not want to drop off from those players who earned glory of the club. We want to become the best and make them proud.”