Phoney war kicks off as Toulon boss blasts O’Callaghan jibes

TOULON’S controversial owner Mourad Boudjellal has turned up the heat ahead of Munster’s must-win Heineken Cup visit to the Stade Félix Mayol in January.

Philippe Saint-André’s side defeated London Irish 38-17 on Saturday to top Pool Three and Boudjellal wasted little time in hitting back at comments made prior to the side’s last meeting in October at Thomond Park.

He said: “I remember for the first match and several Munster players, notably second row Donncha O’Callaghan, taunted us that our team only functioned as a result of money and only had mercenaries. Coming from a town like Limerick, which is financed by the IMF — that gave me a wry smile.”