Clermont ones to avoid in cup pool
Not that the international playing contingent will be able to look that far ahead just yet with Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and France all embarking on demanding tours over the next three weeks.
For some, the journey will be more pleasant than others. Certainly the sizeable Clermont Auvergne contingent in the French squad heading to South Africa will do so with a major millstone finally banished. After over a century chasing a dream and having lost 10 French championship finals, including two in the last three years, they finally reached the Promised Land at the Stade de France.
