Travelling without the dreaded fear factor

IN the not-too-distant past, there was a time when a Heineken Cup fixture on French soil was approached with quivering trepidation.

With so many Irish players pre-programmed for failure after years of losing at either the Parc de Princes or at the Stade de France, there was something in the mindset that suggested failure in France was acceptable.

The only requirement was respectability and to return home with dignity intact – winning was an optional extra.