Unpopular figure

Toulouse and French international prop Franck Tournaire was just about the most unpopular person in Ravenhill last Friday night when Ulster hosted the French side in their European Cup pool match. He couldn't have suffered greater infamy had he kicked the team mascot.

Not in a position to do the latter, he decided that any white shirt would suffice, his `rucking' technique not necessarily being married to the position of the ball at the time. Apart from one minor flare-up, when he was warned by the referee, Tournaire continued on his merry way until replaced in the second half by fellow international Christian Califano.

Safely ensconced on the sideline, one imagined that he could not cause or get into too much trouble. Not so. The crowd roundly booed his substitution and was treated to the bird by M. Tournaire, his one-finger gesture merely increasing the volume of derision.

Minutes later it appeared that Tournaire was about to square up to Ulster team doctor David Irwin as the two brushed by each other. Fortunately for the Frenchman he was quickly whisked away by the Toulouse entourage before Irwin was asked to administer a sedative.