No room at the top — touch of farce as France load up on off-field leaders after a disappointing Six Nations. But who is really in charge, asks James Harrington

The possibility of Ronan O'Gara being part of France's backroom team for the 2019 World Cup has increased with French Rugby Federation sources in Paris confirmed the Munster and Ireland legend was "under consideration."

It was not the first time Toulon captain Mathieu Bastareaud had appeared baffled by the events that had unfolded in front of his eyes at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Toulon coach Fabien Galthie is hopeful that French captain Guilhem Guirado will be fit for Saturday’s Champions Cup showdown against Munster at Thomond Park.

Veteran Argentine international Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe is doubtful for Saturday’s Champions Cup quarter-final against Munster but the task facing Peter O’Mahony’s men was laid out in no uncertain terms in Toulon yesterday.

The pressure eased slightly on coach Fabien Galthie as Montpellier ended a run of seven successive defeats with a thrilling 23-20 victory over Toulouse in their Top 14 clash on Saturday.

IT was Leinster’s misfortune that they were chosen to share the stage with Montpellier when they made their bow in the Heineken Cup last November and they ultimately did well to fly home with a share of the spoils.

IT WOULD have taken every last man in Declan Kidney’s squad a good week or two to flush the disappointment of New Zealand from their systems but it took Eoin Reddan a bit longer than the rest.

LAURENT Labit sits comfortably into a seat outside an auditorium at France Televisions, minutes after the Paris launch of the Heineken Cup.

Guy Noves yesterday guided Toulouse to a record third European Cup victory - then apologised after getting led away by police during his side’s celebrations.

Toulouse know they will have to win the physical battle if they are to overcome Leicester in Sunday's Heineken Cup semi-final.

FRENCH GIANTS Stade Francais are determined to try to increase the pressure on Heineken Cup rivals Ulster and Gloucester tonight.

WITH the Rugby World Cup and the spiritual leaders who graced it, retired, the next seven weeks provides the platform for young talent and new heroes to emerge. That is the way it has always been.

FRANCE winger Vincent Clerc is intent on making an immediate impact when he returns to the France squad for the Six Nations opener against Ireland, after being snubbed by Bernard Laporte for the World Cup.

France winger Vincent Clerc is intent on making an immediate impact when he returns to the France squad for their RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland tomorrow, after being snubbed by Bernard Laporte for the World Cup.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan today demanded that his players salvage their battered pride when they meet France in the opening match of the 2004 RBS 6 Nations championship.

KEITH WOOD was as surprised as anyone but still insists that Eddie O'Sullivan's decision to give Paul O'Connell the captaincy for Ireland's Six Nations clash in Paris on Saturday is a risk worth taking.

Jean-Baptiste Elissalde has been named as France’s new first-choice scrum-half, in Bernard Laporte’s team to face Ireland in this weekend’s RBS 6 Nations opener.

FRANCE are to keep the same coaching staff for the 2004 Six Nations championship but are to review the set-up in April as part of the overhaul planned for the build-up to the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

BOURGOIN coach Philippe Saint-Andre lingered in the background yesterday as retired French captain Fabien Galthie and Mick Galwey had a fleeting conversation on pitch-side at Stade Pierre Rajon.

Fabien Galthie bade an emotional farewell to rugby today before returning home to France following the death of his uncle.

Just to really ruin Serge Betsen’s week, the battle-scarred flanker who was in tears after France’s World Cup semi-final defeat to England will have to attend a disciplinary hearing.

FRANCE coach Bernard Laporte singled out Jonny Wilkinson, who kicked all 24 points as England reached the World Cup final.

THE sun is shining on French rugby at present and captain Fabien Galthie today was optimistic the bright conditions would continue until the World Cup final on November 22.

The sun is shining on French rugby at present and captain Fabien Galthie today forecasted the bright conditions will hover over the squad’s base on Bondi beach right through until the World Cup final on November 22.

IT was a masterstroke by the French Federation when in November 1999 they appointed Bernard Laporte as coach of the national team.

Ireland struggled to stay with a French team who showed some superb power and accuracy both on attack and defence to go into half-time with an imposing 27-0 lead.

FABIEN GALTHIE is renowned for philosophical musings on the enigma that is French rugby, but the scrum-half and captain is taking a thoroughly positive view to his side’s quarter-final clash with Ireland on Sunday.

The formidable French served a notice of intent on potential semi-final opponents England by ravaging Scotland’s World Cup dream at Telstra Stadium.

French skipper Fabien Galthie is convinced Les Blues will show their true colours against Scotland on Saturday.

IF there’s one thing that’s predictable when it comes to the French and rugby it’s their unpredictability.

France coach Bernard Laporte named a virtually full-strength side for ‘Les Bleus’ World Cup Pool B clash with Japan at Townsville.

Latest score (after 20 minutes): France 6, Fiji 8

France captain Fabien Galthie may miss his side’s last match ahead of the World Cup after he injured his left wrist during training.

SOUTH AFRICAN-born centre Brian Liebenberg expressed his astonishment last night at being called up to rugby’s French World Cup squad.

ITALY have threatened to withdraw from this year’s rugby World Cup on the basis that they are being unfairly treated.

FRANCE coach Bernard Laporte declared himself fairly satisfied with his team’s Six Nations performance, though admitting he must solve a flyhalf-goalkicker problem before this year’s World Cup.

IRISH captain Brian O'Driscoll issued a hype warning to the nation's rugby fans last night amid fears that expectations for Saturday's Six Nations clash with France are spiralling out of control.

FRANCE prodigy Dimitri Yachvili may have enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence but the scrum-half is not about to rest on his laurels.

FRANCE will try to make up for the absence of injured Fabien Galthie with a Lansdowne Road double act — Fabien Pelous taking over as captain and Dimitri Yachvili as playmaker for Saturday’s Six Nations game against Ireland.

KEITH WOOD visits a surgeon today with his rugby season in the balance.