Alarm bells go off in Gloucester
The result means Gloucester share leadership of the pool with Munster six points and are clearly alarmed by their recent run of indifferent form crowned by a poor display against the French side.
The final score of 31-23 paid scant tribute to the supremacy enjoyed for 70 minutes by Perpignan.
It was only when their beleaguered coach Olivier Saisset brought on six substitutes (five in the pack) in the closing stages that Gloucester pounced for two tries that could yet prove priceless.
Saisset's position, by all accounts, is under extreme pressure and it seems he regards the French domestic championship to be just as important as the Heineken Cup.
Next week they have a date with Narbonne, who were comprehensively dealt with by Connacht on Sunday.
No sooner had all the subs come on the field than Pascal Giordani was yellow carded by referee Dave McHugh and the two tries Perpignan conceded could yet cost them dearly.
Should Gloucester, Munster and Perpignan all finish on eight points and that's what will happen if they all lose one of their remaining two matches the dividing criteria is the try count in matches played between the sides. At present it's nine to Gloucester, seven to Perpignan and four to Munster.
Incredibly, it seems this crucial factor wasn't unduly exercising Perpignan's mind entering the final stages of the Gloucester game. All they wanted to do was win and avoid injury in the lead-up to what they regard as a vital clash with Narbonne.
"Tries weren't on our minds," admits their Canadian number eight Phil Murphy. "But it looks like it could come back to bite us. Winning was all we thought about. We've had a tough time of late and the coach was mindful of next week's game at Narbonne".
It makes you wonder the degree of importance placed on the Heineken Cup by the French clubs but Perpignan were quite awesome in dismantling the hitherto all-conquering Gloucester machine.
They hadn't won in two months the reason for Saisset's difficulties but raised their game to decimate the Englishmen, a point not lost on Gloucester captain Phil Vickery.
"That was as tough a scrummaging test as we've had in a long time," he admitted.
"If we needed a kick up the backside, then Perpignan gave it to us well and truly. Every team is coming after us and it's something we'll have to deal with. We haven't been playing well for a while and I'm not sure why."
Whereas Gloucester have a cakewalk against Viadana in the next round Munster must travel to Perpignan knowing full well that another heroic performance in France will be required if they are to be in the right frame of mind going into the Gloucester game in Limerick on January 18.
Phil Murphy has already played against both sides but still isn't sure which way to cast his vote.
"Munster are the more aggressive team while Gloucester are a lot faster around the pitch," is his assessment.
Munster could also make the quarter-finals as one of the "best runners-up" should they reach the eight points mark. This time, the number of overall tries scored will probably have a decisive role to play and having picked up 18 from their two games against Viadana, Munster lead the way at present with 22 against 21 each for Leicester and Gloucester; 17 for Toulouse and 14 for Perpignan.
Whereas Pool 2 could hardly be tighter, Leinster and Toulouse, the only sides left in the competition boasting 100% records, and holders Leicester already look certain of quarter-final places and with the likelihood of home venues as well. Bourgoin and Llanelli fight it out in Pool 3 while luckless Ulster are outsiders as Northampton and Biarritz fight it out in Pool 6.
Gloucester's French out-half Ludovic Mercier is the leading points scorer on 89. He is followed by Stephen Jones of Llanelli, 67. Two of the forgotten men of Irish rugby, Barry Everitt and Brian O'Meara have totalled 66 and 57 respectively for London Irish and Leinster while Ronan O'Gara is on 60.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
