Better days in Europe for French connection

EVEN at this early juncture there is a clarity of purpose about the French in Europe this season that suggests they mean business. Biarritz, Toulouse and Stade Francais are unbeaten at the summit of their respective pools while Clermont Auvergne and Perpignan are well positioned to make up ground when the tournament resumes in December. Brive, with two losses, are the only Gallic side out of the mix.

What is clear is that the staging of the final at the Stade de France next May has offered a fresh incentive to all their teams. Over the years a number of French championship sides have suffered huge criticism for their laissez faire attitude towards Europe but that has certainly changed for the better this season. Witness the performances of Stade Francais, Toulouse and Clermont, all playing away from home last weekend, as an indicator of their hunger for success this time out.

Toulouse fought back from a deficit of 14 points to beat Harlequins at The Stoop while Stade Francais were nine down at the Recreation Ground and still managed to topple Bath. The Parisian outfit, under new management after a disastrous start to their domestic season, seem almost inspired by the prospect of the tournament decider in their back yard. With two opening defeats it would appear that poetic justice has arrived in the wake of Bloodgate and that Harlequins will not make the quarter-finals.