Leinster v Bourgoin fallout: The tame manner in which Bourgoin rolled over at Lansdowne Road last Saturday may force the ERC to adopt new disciplinary measures to prevent clubs from fielding makeshift selections.
On current evidence, most French clubs rregard their domestic championship as a higher priority to the Heineken European Cup. Bourgoin rested several first-team players, including their captain Pierre Raschi, in the 92-17 loss, fielding a side that was clearly unable to compete.
The ERC have yet to make a formal announcement on how they intend to deal with the blatant disregard for the Northern Hemisphere's elite competition, the problem being nothing exists in their rulebook stating a team must be at full strength for every game.
"Teams are obliged to register their top 34 players in their squads for competition but they are not obligated to name their top players in the team or match day 22," said ERC spokesman Diarmaid Murphy.
However, Toulouse's Trevor Brennan contends French clubs do take the European Cup very seriously: "In Toulouse we try and win every game. All French clubs are the same as they are breaking their backs to get into the qualification places at the end of every season.
"If a club has no interest in competing in the Heineken Cup they should get out and let another in as there are plenty who want to be there. For Toulouse, both (domestic and Europe) are very important as we have a lot of sponsors who pump money in every year so results are expected every year."
Brennan highlights the fact French clubs are unreliable on the road, although by no means did he proffer this as an excuse for Bourgoin shipping 92 points against his former team-mates.
Leinster manager Paul McNaughton stated it was not a case of the Bourgoin players purposely not trying but rather a miscalculation by the management. Although it is one Laurent Seigne also made against Treviso.
"I don't believe the guys picked for Bourgoin were throwing the game. For the first hour at least they were trying and it was only when the scores got well beyond them they gave the typical Gallic shrug. Whatever about their intentions, they miscalculated the whole thing and rested too many players."
Meanwhile, Leinster and Munster are awaiting medical reports on the fitness of Leo Cullen and Denis Leamy ahead of their return ties against French opposition in their respective pools. Cullen was forced to retire with a shoulder injury at half-time last Saturday. The problem is his AC joint, an injury that ruled the international second row out of most of last season.
Leinster will name their starting XV at a press conference on Wednesday before travelling to France for Friday night's game. Leamy is expected to have stitches in his ear removed and the Munster management are hopeful their latest graduate to the Irish set-up will be available for Saturday's kick-off (5.15 p.m.) against Castres.
The Thomond Park crowd will undoubtedly give the French club's English flanker Paul Volley a frosty reception after his constant baiting of Ronan O'Gara during Munster's 19-12 defeat last Friday.
Ulster have delayed naming a team for their return encounter with Stade Francais until Thursday. In contrast, Michael Bradley will name a Connacht side today for their second leg of the Challenge Cup against Montpellier.
