Bru hoping lightning won’t strike twice
Now, he hopes his worst nightmare isn’t replayed. Bru was shouting for Leicester last weekend because he believes Munster will provide more daunting opposition.
“Honestly, while I like the Irish people better, I wanted Leicester to win because I thought we would have a better chance of beating them.
“My worst memory of the European Cup is being knocked out by Munster, and they have gone on to prove themselves over and over since then. I think they are a tougher side, a better side than Leicester, and that is why I would have preferred to play Leicester at home.”
While Bru talks about setting the record straight when the sides meet on Saturday week, he stops short of talking about revenge.
“You cannot talk about revenge for something that happened three years ago. Anyway, there is nothing to seek revenge for other than the fact that we were beaten by a better side on the day. Also, the fact is that many of the players who lined out that day will not be playing this time. It is a new match and a new challenge for both teams.”
The seasoned hooker is looking forward to that challenge.
“We have a great degree of respect for Munster who have set the scene for a good few years. They have provided many players to the Irish international side and they obviously have had a big influence. Irish rugby is now much stronger than before the start of the Heineken Cup.
“The players have learned from their experiences in Europe and become stronger. We have to do the same.
“At the start of the Heineken Cup, the French and English thought they would dominate every year. That has not been the case. Ireland have come on strongly and Munster have been to the fore in the last three years.”
Bru is also worried that Toulouse have to travel to Pau this weekend to play in a crucial French Championship game.
“We could have done without that kind of pressure a week before the semi-final.
“This is a huge two weeks for us. We really need to win both games to keep our dream of playing in Europe again next year alive.
“It is possible for us to lose out on both counts. If we lose to Pau it will put us under pressure to qualify for the last four of the French Championship and that is an automatic route to Europe next year.
“If we fail to make it then we have to go on to win the Heineken Cup to guarantee our place in next season’s competition.
“There is also the danger that, in such a high profile match against Pau, we could suffer injuries that might disrupt our preparations for Munster. Still, we have to get on with it and hope everything turns out right.
“Whatever happens against Pau, we won’t take Munster lightly. We know that they are a very solid team in defence, very good at scoring tries as well and they travel easily.
“They won’t be worried about playing in Toulouse and they will have huge support at the ground. Their fans have to rank as the best in Europe and they make as much noise as the French!”
Meanwhile, Toulouse flanker, former Leinster and Ireland player Trevor Brennan, is facing a race against time to be fit for the big match.
He tore a muscle in his upper leg against Northampton and is out of the match against Pau.
He admitted yesterday that the recovery period has been put at 21 days.
“That means I am out at the moment but you never know with these nowadays. It might be that I can recover in time.”
Brennan will do everything possible to ensure he does. Having admitted to winding himself up for the Northampton quarter-final on the basis that it was a French-English thing, he would relish the opportunity of having a crack at his old friends Anthony Foley and Alan Quinlan.
“It really is one game I don’t want to miss but I will still have to be guided by medical advice.
“I was out for one game with suspension earlier this season but this is the first time there is a danger of losing out through injury. I would be bitterly disappointed if that happened.”
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