Ronan O'Gara: Joey Carbery could have been Ireland's Beauden Barrett

France is where it’s at right now. Unlike other major rugby leagues in world rugby, it’s all in the one country, it’s a unique lifestyle and culture and there’s a lot of security in the fact that players are guaranteed their pay cheque every month.

TALENT: Munster's Joey Carbery could be heading to Bordeaux-Begles next season.

TOULON must have that sense of foreboding when travelling to the bottom side in the Top 14, Montpellier, last Sunday. Anytime a former manager or coach is around to meet and greet, there’s something in the book of karma that predetermines they will do a number on their old colleagues. 

In Montpellier’s case, they had three old Toulon boys in their ranks - Bernard Laporte, Patrice Collazo and Louis Carbonel. Signs on, Montpellier kept themselves in touch with the four sides above them in the ladder with a shock 27-17 win. What has that to do with anything, you may well wonder, but this week Toulon are stewing and gunning for whoever fronts up next – it’s in keeping with Munster’s luck at the moment that they are the ones in the crosshairs, with their European hopes on the line and bearing their own crosses.