Allen - Silencing fans is key

Leicester centre Anthony Allen believes silencing the passionate home crowd will be key when his side face Toulouse on Sunday.

The sides have both had plenty of success in the tournament and their meeting at the Stade Municipal looks set to be one of the best of the weekend. The French giants are seen as almost invincible on home soil and, as always, have an advantage due to their vociferous supporters, who always try to intimidate visiting teams. Allen accepts that his side are the massive underdogs going into the match but believes silencing the crowd could give them a huge advantage. "It's always a hostile atmosphere when you play in France in front of their big home crowds, but that will give us a great buzz to be part of and we will try and silence them," he said. "The Heineken Cup is the next step down from international rugby, and for those who have not played Test rugby it is the next best thing to progress your career and put a marker down. "Toulouse are a quality outfit and it is massively important we give a good performance. We have to hit the ground running and get it right."