On another chastening afternoon for an English team abroad in the Champions Cup, it took a former Red Rose international, David Ribbans, to deliver an uncomfortable home truth about the punch of the Premiership.

“In the Premiership they still play some really good rugby and some really good shape which maybe isn’t always the case in the Top 14 but, in terms of physicality, I think there’s definitely a step up,” Ribbans said. In effect, the Premiership’s pretty patterns are no match for the brute force of the Top 14.

This was never more evident than in a humbling first half at the Stade Mayol in which Harlequins had more carries, made more metres and beat more defenders than Toulon. They played lots of nice stuff with their phase play. On the scoreboard, however, Harlequins were 26-0 down.

“With Marcus Smith, they ran some nice shapes but by and large we defended pretty well and stayed together and when it counted, we showed our power,” said Ribbans, inadvertently killing Harlequins with kindness.

Harlequins captain Alex Dombrandt pushed back against the notion they were outmuscled, saying “the Premiership is a physical league as well”.

Dombrandt was actually one of Quins’ better performers but when Facundo Isa came charging his way in an alpha test of the No 8s, Dombrandt was deposited unceremoniously on to his backside, which was a perfect snapshot of the physical contest.

It took coach Danny Wilson to deliver a more honest assessment. “You know with the budgets these French teams have they can sign huge physical animals and a lot of powerful animals, which is part of this league. Toulouse, La Rochelle – they are star-studded and have huge powerful men,” Wilson said. “The game is about power and that is something they have in abundance.”

Yet Wilson also pointed out that, in spite of the power differential, Harlequins had managed to win at both Racing 92 and Bordeaux last season. In his opinion, Harlequins’ indiscipline was even more damaging as they conceded 11 first-half penalties, which included a yellow card for flanker James Chisholm after leading with a forearm into Baptiste Serin. During the time that he was in the sin-bin, Toulon scored two further tries.

“The first half there were way too many penalties, which is very unlike us,” Wilson admitted. “I think we are top of the Premiership in terms of penalties conceded, but you give Toulon 11 penalties and a yellow card in the first half, you give them so many entries into the 22 and we found ourselves comfortably down on the scoreboard and looking down the barrel.”

Once in the 22, Toulon remorselessly barrelled their way forward, like a tide of lava. Forwards Gianmarco Lucchesi and Esteban Abadie both scored from close range while Serin breezed through after a delicious dummy, with wing Jiuta Wainiqolo securing the bonus point.

Harlequins briefly threatened to make a game of it in the second half as Smith helped to engineer a try for half-back partner Will Porter before hooker Jack Walker was driven over from a maul. However, wing Gaël Drean finished an excellent team move for Toulon, rendering Nick David’s strike-play in the last act of the game a mere consolation.

Harlequins must now take at least a bonus point in their final pool stage game against Glasgow Warriors to secure a place in the last 16. “It is all on next week,” Wilson said. “We know what we need to do next week. We need to play like we did in the second half of that game, not the first.”

Even if they qualify, their reward would likely be another away trip to France – or Leinster – so it might be a case of careful what you wish for.

“Ultimately, let’s be honest, we would come to Bordeaux, Toulouse, Racing and Toulon as underdogs,” Wilson said. “We go as an underdog to knock sides over. We’ve proved more than once against French sides away from home that we can do that.”

Toulon: M Domon; G Drean, A Frisch, J Sinzelle, J Wainiqolo; P Garbisi, B Serin (B White 63); D Priso (D Brennan 55), G Lucchesi (M Ivaldi 55), K Sinckler (E Setiano 19), M Halagahu (B Alainu’uese 50), D Ribbans (S Rebbadj 62), L Ludlam, A Abadie (D Biggar 58), F Isa (J Coulon 62).

Harlequins: T Green (J Evans 72); N David, O Beard, L Northmore (B Waghorn 66), C Murley; M Smith, W Porter (D Care 52); F Baxter (W Jones 62), J Walker (S Riley 74), T Lamositele (S Kerrod 62), J Launchbury (W Evans 73), G Hammond, J Chisholm, J Kenningham (C Cunningham-South 59), A Dombrandt.

Scoring sequence: 5-0, Lucchesi try; 7-0, Serin con; 12-0, Serin try; 14-0, Serin con; 19-0, Abadie try; 24-0, Wainiqolo try; 26-0, Serin con; 26-5, Porter try; 26-7, Smith con; 26-12, Walker try; 26-14, Smith con; 31-14 Drean try; 33-14, Serin con; 33-19, David try; 33-21, Smith con.

03:13 PM GMT

State of pool four through three matches

1. Toulon- 13 points

2. Glasgow- 12 points

3. Harlequins- 5 points

4. Stormers- 5 points

5. Sale- 5 points

6. Racing 92- 4 points

Next weekend, Harlequins host Glasgow, Toulon travel to Sale and Racing play Stormers at home.

03:05 PM GMT

Next weekend’s fixtures

Friday 17th January:

Ulster vs Exeter 8pm (Pool 1)

Saturday 18th January:

Bulls vs Stade Francais 1pm (Pool 3)

Clermont Auvergne vs Bristol 3.15pm (Pool 2)

Northampton vs Munster 3.15pm (Pool 3)

Benetton vs La Rochelle 5.30pm (Pool 2)

Leinster vs Bath 5.30pm (Pool 2)

Harlequins vs Glasgow 8pm (Pool 4)

Racing 92 vs Stormers 8pm (Pool 4)

Sunday 19th January:

Bordeaux vs Sharks 1pm (Pool 1)

Toulouse vs Leicester 3.15pm (Pool 1)

Saracens vs Castres 3.15pm (Pool 3)

Sale vs Toulon 5.30pm (Pool 4)

02:57 PM GMT

Champions Cup fixtures and results this weekend

Friday:

Glasgow 29-19 Racing (Pool 4)

Saturday:

Stormers 40-0 Sale (Pool 4)

Exeter 17-69 Bordeaux (Pool 1)

Sharks 8-20 Toulouse (Pool 1)

Munster 17-12 Saracens (Pool 3)

Stade Francais 45-35 Northampton (Pool 3)

Leicester 38-10 Ulster (Pool 1)

Castres 49-10 Bulls (Pool 3)

Today:

Toulon 33-21 Harlequins (Pool 4)

Bristol vs Benetton 3.15pm (Pool 2)

La Rochelle vs Leinster 3.15pm (Pool 2)

Bath vs Clermont 5.30pm (Pool 2)

02:55 PM GMT

Full-time

Harlequins have their third try but will have no time to get a bonus-point fourth. It comes directly from the scrum as David is found on the inside pass from J Evans and goes over. Smith gets the conversion but that will be that at Stade Mayol. Toulon win it 33-21 and make it three wins from three in the competition.

02:53 PM GMT

79 mins: Toulon 33 Harlequins 14

Time is running out for Harlequins to get anything from this match. They work it down the right and make their way into the Toulon 22. The ball is stripped by Toulon but they are adjudged to have knocked it forward. Harlequins will have a scrum inside the Toulon 22 with less than a minute remaining.

02:51 PM GMT

77 mins: Toulon 33 Harlequins 14

Dombrandt steals a loose ball on the Harlequins 10-metre line and bursts forward into the Toulon half. He attempts an offload to David but the visitors lose possession.

02:46 PM GMT

74 mins: Toulon 33 Harlequins 14

Toulon work it well down the left as Ludlam finds Coulon. Toulon have it inside the Harlequins 22 but lose possession. Smith then makes a break down the right-hand touchline but is bundled into touch by White.

02:44 PM GMT

73 mins: Toulon 33 Harlequins 14

Double change for Harlequins as W Evans and J Evans replace Launchbury and Green.

02:43 PM GMT

72 mins: Toulon 33 Harlequins 14

A good defensive set from Harlequins forces White into a loose kick forward and Green calls for the mark. Poor decision from White.

02:41 PM GMT

70 mins: Toulon 33 Harlequins 14

Toulon win a scrum penalty on halfway so will kick into the Harlequins 22.

02:39 PM GMT

68 mins: Toulon 33 Harlequins 14

Even though they are likely to lose this match, Harlequins will want to come away from this game with at least one bonus point.

Toulon are bringing on Dan Biggar. Intriguingly he is coming on for Abadie, so Sinzelle will move from the centres into the back-row.

02:37 PM GMT

66 mins: Toulon 33 Harlequins 14

Garbisi puts a neat little grubber kick through into the Harlequins 22. Wainiqolo attempts to slap it back in play but it goes forward.

Harlequins have brought on Waghorn for his European debut, replacing Northmore.

02:33 PM GMT

63 mins: Toulon 33 Harlequins 14

Harlequins make good progress towards the Toulon 22 and shift out to the right wing but Green knocks on

Toulon are making a change at scrum-half as Serin is replaced by White. Serin has been brilliant today for the home side and receives plenty of applause from the home fans as he heads off.

02:26 PM GMT

TRY! Drean finishes off great Toulon move

A brilliant offload out of the back of the hand from Wainiqolo finds Drean on the right wing. Drean cuts inside and cannot be stopped. Serin converts and Toulon hit back after a couple of Harlequins tries.

02:25 PM GMT

56 mins: Toulon 26 Harlequins 14

Harlequins have definitely wrestled back momentum in this second half but Toulon have it inside the Harlequins 22...

02:22 PM GMT

TRY! Walker continues Harlequins’ fightback

Harlequins win the lineout and set the maul. Toulon cannot stop it and Walker is the beneficiary at the back of a strong rolling maul. Smith gets the conversion and Toulons’ lead is now down to 12 points.

02:21 PM GMT

55 mins: Toulon 26 Harlequins 7

Lucchesi illegally collapses the maul and Harlequins have another penalty. Alex Dombrandt received a warning from Andrew Brace in that spot in the first half and now Toulon captain David Ribbans receives the same warning. Harlequins go back to the corner.

02:19 PM GMT

54 mins: Toulon 26 Harlequins 7

Harlequins win a penalty just outside the Toulon 22 after a great tackle from David on Wainiqolo, who had just received a kick. Wainiqolo is pinged for holding on and Smith kicks into the 22.

02:18 PM GMT

52 mins: Toulon 26 Harlequins 7

Harlequins attack from deep and Murley makes the break from inside his own 22. They make their way into the Toulon half but lose possession.

02:16 PM GMT

TRY! Porter gets Harlequins on the board

Harlequins have their first try of the match. Smith finds Chisholm with a well-timed inside pass not far outside the Toulon 22. Chisholm has Porter for support inside him and finds his number nine, allowing Porter to run in untouched. Smith lands an easy conversion. That is Porter’s last act as Care is on.

02:15 PM GMT

49 mins: Toulon 26 Harlequins 0

The first lineout is messy but Harlequins win another lineout as the ball went out off Toulon. They go to the back, win the lineout and set the maul. They get it into the hands of the backs but Smith’s grubber is blocked and Toulon clear.

02:14 PM GMT

48 mins: Toulon 26 Harlequins 0

Harlequins win a penalty on the Toulon 22 as Isa is pinged for not rolling away. No point in going for three, they go to the corner.

02:12 PM GMT

47 mins: Toulon 26 Harlequins 0

Harlequins are very close to the Toulon line but fluff their lines. Dombrandt attempts a fancy offload to Murley but the winger ends up going into touch. Dombrandt should have kept it rather than pass.

02:12 PM GMT

46 mins: Toulon 26 Harlequins 0

Harlequins have a penalty advantage as Toulon collapse the maul. A neat offload from Smith sends Beard into the Toulon 22. Harlequins recycle it quickly and move it right. It looks like Harlequins will be in for a try but Green is tackled brilliantly by Domon with David outside him and knocks on. Had David received the pass he would have been in for the try. We will go back for the penalty and Harlequins kick to the corner.

02:10 PM GMT

44 mins: Toulon 26 Harlequins 0

Toulon have it again on the edge of the Harlequins 22 but Murley steps up with a crucial penalty for the visitors at the breakdown. Harlequins are now back up to 15 men with Chisholm back from his yellow card.

02:08 PM GMT

43 mins: Toulon 26 Harlequins 0

Toulon break from their own scrum inside their own half and make great progress towards the Harlequins 22. A grubber kick in behind is put through but Murley gets back to dot down and Harlequins can now clear.

02:05 PM GMT

Second half

We are back under way at Stade Mayol. Toulon are in complete control of this one with 40 minutes left. Harlequins are still down to 14 for now with Chisholm in the sin-bin.

02:03 PM GMT

Dominant first half from the hosts

02:02 PM GMT

Champions Cup fixtures and results this weekend

Friday:

Glasgow 29-19 Racing (Pool 4)

Saturday:

Stormers 40-0 Sale (Pool 4)

Exeter 17-69 Bordeaux (Pool 1)

Sharks 8-20 Toulouse (Pool 1)

Munster 17-12 Saracens (Pool 3)

Stade Francais 45-35 Northampton (Pool 3)

Leicester 38-10 Ulster (Pool 1)

Castres 49-10 Bulls (Pool 3)

Today:

Toulon 26-0 Harlequins HT (Pool 4)

Bristol vs Benetton 3.15pm (Pool 2)

La Rochelle vs Leinster 3.15pm (Pool 2)

Bath vs Clermont 5.30pm (Pool 2)

01:55 PM GMT

HT verdict

01:50 PM GMT

TRY! Wainiqolo gets Toulon’s bonus point

With the clock in the red Toulon have the chance to kick towards the Harlequins 22 as Priso won his side a penalty at the breakdown as Walker is caught holding on.

Garbisi attempts a little grubber through and the hosts are fortunate as it is blocked and flicks straight into the hands of Wainiqolo, who goes over for Toulon’s fourth try of the half.

Serin lands the conversion and at the break Toulon lead 26-0. They are in complete control.

01:47 PM GMT

TRY! Abadie extends Toulon’s lead

The home side have been so strong on home soil this season and this has been a great first half for them. They have their third try of this half as Abadie is over. Serin misses the conversion but Toulon now lead 19-0 just before the break.

01:44 PM GMT

35 mins: Toulon 14 Harlequins 0

Harlequins’ first half is going from bad to worse as Chisholm is shown a yellow card for leading with his forearm in the carry.

01:39 PM GMT

33 mins: Toulon 14 Harlequins 0

Another penalty conceded by Harlequins and their captain Alex Dombrandt is receiving a verbal warning from referee Andrew Brace. Next one and a player will be shown a yellow card. The kick from Garbisi to touch though goes dead. What a let-off for Harlequins!

01:37 PM GMT

32 mins: Toulon 14 Harlequins 0

Baxter is punished for not rolling away and Toulon have the opportunity to pump a kick into the Harlequins 22.

01:34 PM GMT

29 mins: Toulon 14 Harlequins 0

Toulon have already lost one starting prop and there was concern over their other one but Priso looks like he is fine to continue.

01:33 PM GMT

28 mins: Toulon 14 Harlequins 0

Toulon win a penalty inside the Harlequins half and take it quickly through Serin. They move towards the Harlequins 22 but the visitors force the turnover. Like Harlequins a bit earlier, perhaps Toulon will regret taking that penalty quickly.

The game opens up and Kenningham takes Harlequins up towards the Toulon 22 but Domon wins the hosts a penalty at the ruck.

01:30 PM GMT

TRY! Serin snipes his way over

So clever from Serin! From the base of a ruck around eight metres out, Serin dummies the pass and Hammond is completely sold on it. Serin sprints through the gap as the guard defender does not do his job properly and goes over untouched. He converts his own try and Toulon now lead 14-0. France have quite a few brilliant nines in their ranks; Dupont, Lucu, Le Garrec, Serin!

01:30 PM GMT

25 mins: Toulon 7 Harlequins 0

Harlequins are caught offside on multiple occasions and Toulon have another penalty advantage not far out...

01:29 PM GMT

24 mins: Toulon 7 Harlequins 0

Wainiqolo is impeded off the ball as Toulon kicked into the Harlequins half and eventually referee Andrew Brace agrees. There is so much more focus now on escort lines and players blocking runners. Lamositele is penalised for blocking Wainiqolo so Toulon can kick into the Harlequins 22.

01:27 PM GMT

22 mins: Toulon 7 Harlequins 0

Initially Abadie looks like he will get away with a deliberate knock-on just inside the Harlequins half but in the end he is penalised after a few replays. That is the right call; he never had a chance of catching that ball.

01:24 PM GMT

19 mins: Toulon 7 Harlequins 0

Sinckler has been down for a while receiving some treatment and his day is over. He has hurt his forearm or his wrist and cannot continue. He would have been looking forward to this match against old pals but he does not even last 20 minutes. Setiano is on in his place.

01:21 PM GMT

18 mins: Toulon 7 Harlequins 0

Wainiqolo takes a great catch from a crossfield kick but he was offside. Harlequins take the penalty from just outside the Toulon 22 quickly and David is melted by Wainiqolo. Toulon then win a penalty and Harlequins might regret that decision to take it quickly.

01:17 PM GMT

15 mins: Toulon 7 Harlequins 0

A neat offload from Sinckler off the floor send Garbisi into the Harlequins 22 but soon after the ball is dropped forward and the chance is gone.

01:14 PM GMT

13 mins: Toulon 7 Harlequins 0

Harlequins attack all the way from a scrum on their own 22. They ship it wide to the left and after he bumps a tackler off, Murley makes good ground down the left touchline. They are on the edge of the Toulon 22 but the hosts force a turnover and clear downfield.

01:09 PM GMT

8 mins: Toulon 7 Harlequins 0

It is deemed that there was separation and a knock-on from Murley due to Ribbans’ last-ditch tackle. A goal-line drop-out allows Toylon to clear.

01:08 PM GMT

7 mins: Toulon 7 Harlequins 0

Has Murley scored right in the corner? He did not look entirely convinced so we will go to the TMO...

01:07 PM GMT

6 mins: Toulon 7 Harlequins 0

Harlequins make their first foray ball-in-hand into the Toulon half. They progress towards the Toulon 22 and then win a penalty as the hosts are penalised for not rolling away. Harlequins turn down a shot at three points and go to the corner.

01:04 PM GMT

TRY! Lucchesi powers over inside two minutes

Perfect start for Toulon, disastrous for Harlequins. The hosts power through a number of phases close to the Harlequins line and eventually Lucchesi goes over from close range. Serin lands the conversion and Toulon lead 7-0 after just a few minutes.

01:03 PM GMT

1 min: Toulon 0 Harlequins 0

A nervy start for Harlequins as Smith’s kick-off is short of the 10-metre line and Toulon catch, making good progress forward. Then the ball is kicked ahead into the Harlequins 22, where Green’s clearance kick is blocked by Wainiqolo . Lukcily for him it goes into touch.

01:01 PM GMT

Kick-off

The customary Toulon ‘Pilou Pilou’ is belted out and then we are under way at Felix Mayol. Will Toulon make it three wins from three in this competition or will Harlequins claim victory?

12:59 PM GMT

Kick-off fast approaching

Both sides emerge into the sunshine on the French Riviera and we are just moments away from kick-off at Stade Mayol.

12:54 PM GMT

Reminder of the teams

Toulon starting XV: Domon; Drean, Frisch, Sinzelle, Wainiqolo; Garbisi, Serin; Priso, Lucchesi, Sinckler, Halagahu, Ribbans (capt), Ludlam, Abadie, Isa.

Replacements: Ivaldi, Brennan, Setiano, Alainu’uese, Rebbadj, Coulon, White, Biggar.

Harlequins starting XV: Green; David, Beard, Northmore, Murley; Smith, Porter; Baxter, Walker, Lamositele, Launchbury, Hammond, Chisholm, Kenningham, Dombrandt (capt).

Replacements: Riley, Jones, Kerrod, Cunningham-South, W Evans, Care, J Evans, Waghorn.

12:49 PM GMT

Hosts getting ready

12:47 PM GMT

Visitors gearing up

12:44 PM GMT

Travelling Harlequins support

12:42 PM GMT

From Paris to Toulon

12:39 PM GMT

Smith: I am a fly-half – that’s where I want to play

Our deputy rugby union correspondent Daniel Schofield has sat down for an exclusive interview this week with Marcus Smith.

12:35 PM GMT

Return to the French Riviera for Halfpenny

Former Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny spent three years at Toulon from 2014-17 and here is he is catching up with a man he knows very well in the shape of his former Wales teammate Dan Biggar, who is on the bench for Toulon. Both men have over 100 Wales caps so they have played alongside each other a lot but today they are enemies (for 80 minutes at least!)

12:30 PM GMT

Sinckler: The French actually pay to watch scrums

For more from Daniel Schofield’s interview with Kyle Sinckler, who starts for Toulon against one of his former clubs Harlequins, click here.

12:24 PM GMT

Visitors in the house

12:22 PM GMT

Hosts arriving

12:18 PM GMT

Get your fix

12:15 PM GMT

Travelling fans enjoying the Côte d’Azur

12:12 PM GMT

Beautiful day on the French Riviera

It is a positively barmy 13 degrees in Toulon this afternoon compared to two degrees in London!

12:11 PM GMT

Champions Cup fixtures and results this weekend

Friday:

Glasgow 29-19 Racing (Pool 4)

Saturday:

Stormers 40-0 Sale (Pool 4)

Exeter 17-69 Bordeaux (Pool 1)

Sharks 8-20 Toulouse (Pool 1)

Munster 17-12 Saracens (Pool 3)

Stade Francais 45-35 Northampton (Pool 3)

Leicester 38-10 Ulster (Pool 1)

Castres 49-10 Bulls (Pool 3)

Today:

Toulon vs Harlequins 1pm (Pool 4)

Bristol vs Benetton 3.15pm (Pool 2)

La Rochelle vs Leinster 3.15pm (Pool 2)

Bath vs Clermont 5.30pm (Pool 2)

12:04 PM GMT

Team news

Toulon make four changes from their win over Racing 92 in the Top 14 last weekend. Antoine Frisch, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Gianmarco Lucchesi and Esteban Abadie come into the starting XV. Charles Ollivon is out after suffering a serious knee injury. Former England players David Ribbans, Lewis Ludlam and ex-Harlequins man Kyle Sinckler all start, with Ribbans captaining the side. Scotland scrum-half Ben White and former Wales fly-half Dan Biggar are on the bench.

Toulon starting XV: Domon; Drean, Frisch, Sinzelle, Wainiqolo; Garbisi, Serin; Priso, Lucchesi, Sinckler, Halagahu, Ribbans (capt), Ludlam, Abadie, Isa.

Replacements: Ivaldi, Brennan, Setiano, Alainu’uese, Rebbadj, Coulon, White, Biggar.

Harlequins make three changes. Captain Alex Dombrandt, George Hammond and Tyrone Green come into the starting side. Centre Ben Waghorn could make his European debut off the bench. Danny Care, who signed a contract extension this week, returns to the bench.

Harlequins starting XV: Green; David, Beard, Northmore, Murley; Smith, Porter; Baxter, Walker, Lamositele, Launchbury, Hammond, Chisholm, Kenningham, Dombrandt (capt).

Replacements: Riley, Jones, Kerrod, Cunningham-South, W Evans, Care, J Evans, Waghorn.

11:58 AM GMT

Match preview

Harlequins make the trip to the Côte d’Azur to take on Toulon at the Stade Mayol in the Champions Cup. Harlequins, who sit seventh in the Premiership, lost their opening Champions Cup match in France as they went down 23-12 at Racing 92. They did bounce back in their second game with a dominant 53-16 home win over the Stormers, meaning they sit in third place in pool four. Harlequins did reach the Champions Cup semi-finals last season, beating Glasgow and Bordeaux in the knockout stages before losing against Toulouse in the semi-finals.

Last time out in the Premiership, they secured a 14-38 victory away at Newcastle just over a week ago. Earlier this week it was announced that 38-year-old scrum-half Danny Care has signed on for another year, which will take him into his 20^th campaign for the club. Today will mark his 387^th appearance for Harlequins, should he come off the bench, and he told the BBC Rugby Union Weekly podcast how much he is still enjoying playing.

“I will be at Harlequins next season, I ain’t leaving - I love it too much, I cannot give it up yet. Hopefully a few Quins fans will be happy with that.

“That game [the ‘Big Game’ against Leicester in December] probably reminded me again just how lucky I am, fortunate, to still play this game we love and to still play for the club that I love. I am not going to give it up while I enjoy it.”

Toulon are currently in third in the Top 14, seven points off leaders Bordeaux, after a 36-24 home victory over Racing 92 last weekend. They sit second in pool four in the Champions Cup; in their opening match they won 14-24 away at the Stormers before a narrow 30-29 victory over Glasgow in matchday two. Glasgow currently lead the way in pool two on 12 points having played a game more after their victory on Friday night against Racing 92.

Nearly five years after leaving Harlequins, former England tighthead prop Kyle Sinckler starts against his former club whilst Lewis Ludlam also features in Toulon’s starting XV. The hosts have though been dealt a huge blow as back-row Charles Ollivon has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury, which is also damaging for France ahead of the upcoming Six Nations.

Today is just the second time these sides have met in a competitive fixture and the first meeting in the Champions Cup. They face each other in the Challenge Cup knockout stages back in April 2012, where Toulon ran out comfortable 37-8 winners. Danny Care, who scored a try on that night, was on the bench for Harlequins that day and in the Toulon ranks were the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Matt Giteau and Steffon Armitage.

Kick-off at the Stade Mayol is at 1pm.