03rd May 2010 13:09

Out of reach: Marcus Horan

Marcus Horan offered a passionate defence of Irish rugby following a trio of sobering results in Europe.

Munster, Leinster and Connacht fell to French opposition over the weekend with the Top 14 supplying three of the finalists in the Heineken and Amlin Challenge Cups.

In a bruising pair of semi-finals, Leinster were convincingly dispatched by Toulouse while an unspectacular Biarritz ground out victory over Munster.

The lack of Irish representation in the Heineken Cup final for the first time in three years comes two months after the national team surrendered their Grand Slam to a vastly superior France.

But Horan, the Ireland and Munster prop, denies the nation's fortunes are on the slide.

"What can you read into these results when the draws were so tough with both Munster and Leinster coming to France?" he said.

"We both acquitted ourselves really well and both teams can be very proud of what they did.

"It was always going to be a tough test for us. After a quarter-final at home we knew we'd have to go to France twice and win both times if we were to win the competition.

"That would be a huge test for any team but to say that it means Irish rugby is on the way down is unfair."

Munster's defeat was the most dispiriting as it appeared to confirm suspicions that they are a fading force in Europe.

A day after a patched-up Leinster had been predictably outgunned by favourites Toulouse, they were overpowered 18-7 by a Biarritz side that finished a lowly seventh in the Top 14.

Yet Horan is surprised that Munster's obituary is being written and insists the 2006 and 2008 champions will be spurred on by the negativity.

"We've been written off before and it drives us. It's amazing how one game can turn things around," said the 32-year-old.

"There's a lot of fight left in the guys and these kind of defeats can only make the fellas stronger.

"This has happened to us before. We've had 10 years of it but still came back so I can't see why we can't come back from it again."

Munster's pedigree in Europe is second only to three-times champions Toulouse and they have been perennial contenders in the competition over the last decade.

Inevitably age has caught up with them and the main concern is that too many players are the wrong side of 30.

Established Ireland internationals Keith Earls and Tomas O'Leary have provided an injection of youth, but otherwise Munster's proud veterans now look a little too grizzled.

Critics claim the team urgently requires overhauling, but Horan insists they remain as ambitious as ever.

"Well, we are ageing. We're all getting older but a lot of us are playing some great rugby at the moment," he said.

"There's still great drive. There's a great mix of young players as well. It's always important to have a mix like that.

"No matter what team you are, as the years go on people will always say that you're getting too old. It's an excuse that people will use.

"But the drive is definitely there. Guys are keen and it still means so much to them."

Full-back Paul Warwick believes Munster will continue to challenge for European honours next season.

"This team definitely still has it in them - we are not a fading force," he said.

"There's huge desire and ambition and that will never be questioned with the talent we have in the dressing room."

Toulon have confirmed that 36-year-old Tana Umaga is set to return to the playing field against Bourgoin next Friday as a medical joker.

The former All Blacks legend and current coach at the headline grabbing French club will replace injured wing Christian Loamanu as a medical joker.

23-year-old Loamanu has been Toulon's best wing this season but won't play again this season after dislocating his hip against Castres last Friday.

Immediately after the game manager Philippe Saint-André on club owner Mourad Boudjellal approached Umaga, asking the former New Zealand skipper to lace up his boots once more before he ends his French adventure.

Umaga will leave Toulon at the end of the season to return to home as a player-coach at Counties Manukau after arriving in the Vars in 2006.

The centre played nine games at the end of last season, making a comeback and helping save Toulon from relegation. He has since kept fit by training with the players - mainly to avoid picking up weight.

Toulon are reported to have tried to bring Paul Sackey, who has signed for next year, in early what they were unable to secure his release from Wasps.

Lote Tuqiri was also an option, but after long negotiations, the former Wallaby decided to return to League in Australia.

So, Umaga is back, this time to try help Toulon make the Top 14 play-off and secure a place in the Heineken Cup.

Ireland and Leinster forward Jamie Heaslip has hinted that he may up sticks and move to either France or the Super 15 in the near future.

The 26-year-old, who has been one of the standout players over the past two seasons and alongside Imanol Harinordoquy and Johnnie Beattie been the star number eight in the 2010 Six Nations, is obviously hot property at the moment.

And in an interview with the Irish Independent, Heaslip has not hidden the fact that a change of scenery is not out of the question.

"I'd like to play abroad at some stage," he said.

"I don't know where but France might be interesting. Or some Super 15 stuff. I'd like a crack at that."

Leinster will, of course, be looking to tie in their man, who made his debut at the province back in 2005. But with the likes of Melbourne Rebels and Top 14 outfits always on the lookout for big-name players, Heaslip's future is now in the balance.

"I'd like to mix it up," he continued before saying it would be difficult to leave Dublin.

"I'd find it hard to play for another team in Ireland because I'm Leinster through and through. I want to experience things, go somewhere for a season? I'd be up for that."

18 February 2010

Top 14 returns this weekend with a crucial round of fixtures set to be played out without any of France's 23-man Six Nations squad participating. This will obviously affect some teams more than others, with Stade Toulousain (seven absentees) and Clermont Auvergne (five) the two hardest hit by the LNR's decision.

Stade Toulousain boss Guy Noves made his feelings clear on the matter this week - especially regarding the availability of Jean-Baptiste Poux - and the visit of Toulon to the 17-time champions is one of the standout fixtures scheduled for Saturday.

Elsewhere, there are a number of critical clashes with Biarritz entertaining Brive in a match that could major implications for two sides both seeking to make up ground for a coveted top six finish.

Leaders Perpignan travel to Montauban looking to consolidate top spot, and an away win could prove doubly beneficial with nearest challengers Castres also on the road as they journey to Paris to take on Racing-Métro 92.

It all adds up to a mouth-watering round of fixtures, and with just six more league games to go after this one it is now time to stand up and be counted.

Top 14, Round 20 fixtures (Current league position in brackets)

Biarritz may be flying the flag for France in the Heineken Cup but time is running out for them in Top 14 as they seek to make up the considerable nine point gap that currently separates them from sixth-placed Toulon. There are only six more league games after this weekend and should the Basques fail to make up that ground they face the unenviable task of having to win this season's Heineken Cup to qualify again for next season's competition. That they should find themselves in such a scenario is mystifying given their squad strength, so the stakes could not be higher in this Friday night showdown with Brive - one of three realistic contenders (along with Biarritz and Stade Francais) battling it out to gain that last top six spot from Toulon. To make matters worse for the home side Brive arrive full of confidence after losing just twice in their last nine league games, and with a four-point advantage over their opponents. They may be shorn of England internationals Riki Flutey and Steve Thompson - as well as France's Alexis Palisson - but Biarritz will also be far from full strength. Club totem Imanol Harinordoquy is with France, while Damien Traille, Dimitri Yachvili, Fabien Barcella, Magnus Lund and Paul Couet-Lannes are all out injured. Indeed, Couet-Lannes will take no further part this season after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while playing for France Under-19s against their South African counterparts last Friday. The triple absence of Harinordoquy, Yachvili and Traille is a massive blow to Biarritz, and they rarely reach their potential without their three musketeers. Iain Balshaw will start at full-back, with fellow England international Ayoola Erinle at inside centre, while Julien Peyrelongue and Valentin Courrent make up the half-back pairing. Brive - who have allowed Andy Goode to join Natal Sharks on loan - will have Fabrice Estebanez available after being released from the French squad, and Ugo Mola's team will fancy nicking a crucial away win to bolster their own play-off hopes. They are currently five points behind Toulon, but with the latter away to Stade Toulousain this weekend is shaping up to be a make-or-break set of fixtures. 
Last season:
Biarritz 24 Brive 5
Brive 19 Biarritz 15
This season:
Brive 12 Biarritz 15
Verdict: Brive win

Ambitious Racing know there's little room for manoeuvre as they seek to consolidate their top six ambitions, so the visit of high-flying Castres provides another stern test for Pierre Berbizier's men. The home side are still unsure whether Sébastien Chabal will be fit enough to play following his recent back problems, but they will definitely be without club captain Lionel Nallet and Italian international Andrea Masi. They will once more look to their powerful pack to provide a platform for impressive fly-half Jonathan Wisniewski, but Castres also have energy to burn up front with former All Black Chris Masoe leading their own rampaging forwards. The match at Castres saw the home side win a gritty battle 9-6 and it's likely to be another tight affair at the Stade Yves du Manoir as both teams go for the win. Castres will be without injured prop Luc Ducalcon.
Last season: Racing-Métro were in ProD2
This season:
Castres 9 Racing-Métro 6
Verdict: Racing win

Clermont will be missing French internationals Thomas Domingo, Julien Pierre, Julien Bonnaire, Morgan Parra and Julien Malzieu, but will surely still have sufficient firepower to overcome basement boys SCA Albi with the likes of Kevin Senio, Brock James, Napolioni Nalaga and Brent Russell all available. They could also include Italian centre Gonzalo Canale, while former Springbok centre Marius Joubert is in the squad after more than a year out with groin and hamstring problems.  The Stade Marcel Michelin is a daunting venue for the best of teams, and Albi are certainly far from that. Eric Béchu's team have registered just three wins from 19 so far this season and it's impossible to see that ratio improving on Saturday. A negative points aggregate of -220 tells its own woeful story and Clermont will be additionally motivated by having lost 33-24 at Racing-Métro in their last league match. Vern Cotter's team have targeted a top two finish to secure an automatic semi-final play-off berth, so nothing but a resounding home win will be expected here.
Last season: SCA Albi were in ProD2
This season:
SCA Albi 8 Clermont Auvergne 40
Verdict: Clermont Auvergne win

Defending champions and current leaders Perpignan will be keen to extend their three-match winning streak with victory at the Stade Sapiac over a Montauban team that is still far from secure in its own Top 14 status. The hosts are presently just four points ahead of 12th-placed Bayonne and have lost six of their last eight league games as they continue to stutter. Perpignan, on the other hand, are beginning to find something of the form that saw them win their first French title in 54 years last season. The Catalans will be without centres David Marty (with France) and Maxime Mermoz (injured), although the latter could return to action in round 21. France prop Nicolas Mas is also unavailable, but they should still be strong enough to make it four wins on the spin as they try to firm up their own top two standing to seal an automatic semi-final slot.
Last season:
Montauban 6 Perpignan 9
Perpignan 19 Montauban 9
This season:
Perpignan 28 Montauban 9
Verdict: Perpignan win

Relegation-threatened Bayonne can boost their hopes of Top 14 survival with what would be a crucial away win in Montpellier if they can triumph on Saturday. Their hosts have been frustratingly inconsistent this season, but with French internationals Francois Trinh-Duc and Fulgence Ouedraogo both ruled out Montpellier will be shorn of two top quality players. Bayonne, by contrast, have Italy fly-half Craig Gower and national team-mate Salvatore Perugini both back in their squad as they go in search of a win that could see them climb out of the bottom two, depending on how Bourgoin fare at home to Stade Francais. The Basques have won three of their four games under new head coach Christian Gajan, and they surely won't lack for motivation. Montpellier, on the other hand, are comfortable in the relative safety of 10th spot, and could just be there for the taking.
Last season:
Montpellier 20 Bayonne 11
Bayonne 42 Montpellier 9
This season:
Bayonne 26 Montpellier 3
Verdict: Bayonne win

The final game of the weekend could be the pick of the bunch in round 21, with Stade Toulousain out to avenge their 18-13 away defeat to Toulon earlier in the season. Toulon also came within a point of winning in Toulouse last season, and will take heart from the fact Guy Noves' team lost their long home unbeaten run in their last match in Toulouse - when they went down 16-15 to Clermont Auvergne. The home side will be seriously handicapped by French internationals Jean-Baptiste Poux, William Servat, Thierry Dusautoir, Frederic Michalak, Yannick Jauzion, Vincent Clerc and Clement Poitrenaud all being unavailable, while Jean-Baptiste Elissalde is also ruled out through injury.  Toulouse will still be able to field a quality side however, while Toulon will also have to make do without England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson. In Felipe Contepomi they have a quality ready-made replacement, but they have proved vulnerable on the road this season, losing seven of their last nine away games in Top 14. Given that record and their weekend opponents then Philippe Saint-André would probably settle for a defensive bonus on Saturday night.
Last season:
Stade Toulousain 19 Toulon 18
Toulon 14 Stade Toulousain 6
This season:
Toulon 18 Stade Toulousain 13
Verdict: Stade Toulousain win

17th February 2010 13:44

Marius Joubert: Fit again

Former Springbok centre Marius Joubert could start his first game for Clermont in over a year on Saturday against Albi in Round Twenty of the Top 14.

Joubert last started a game for Les Jaunards in January 2009.

After one failed comeback and a second hamstring operation the South African is back the Clermont group to host the Top 14 basement dwellers at Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin on Saturday.

Last year's Top 14 finalists have been training indoors this week as their fields are covered in snow.

Meanwhile Perpignan's French international centre Maxime Mermoz will have to wait another week before making his comeback from a shoulder injury.

The injury, which forced Mermoz to miss out on the Six Nations, has healed but the needs another week to work on his strength.