Wilkinson: We can do parochialism too

TOULON fly-half Jonny Wilkinson believes Munster will be facing an entire region when then kick off at Stade Felix-Mayol tomorrow.

The sold-out stadium close to the Mediterranean waterfront is in the heart of the souther French town and has drawn plenty of comparisons with Munster’s own Thomond Park in terms of the atmosphere, noise and passion it creates.

Pool Three leaders Toulon, making their Heineken Cup debut this season have a chance to end Munster’s participation in thecompetition, though, and theEngland World Cup winner from 2003 believes the Toulonnais fans can play their part.

“Here in Toulon, the team isn’t only a group of players and staff, but also the entire area,” Wilkinson said yesterday. “When we play at our Stade Mayol, I get the impression from time to time our opponents play against us and everyone in the area. This makes my experience in Toulon unique.”

Wilkinson has proven to be Toulon’s mainstay in Europe and the Top 14 and he scored all 12 points last Sunday, including three drop goals, in the 15-12 defeat at Racing Metro. “I give everything I have and like to set an example to the players who are playing alongside me,” he said.

“Against Munster, we know that we can achieve something special by beating a team who have many top-level players. It’s great to be part of such an event. We are really excited about this game. It’s why you play rugby for matches like these.”

The Englishman did not start last October’s round two game at Thomond Park, when Munster ran out convincing 45-18 winners but Wilkinson said it the defeat proved instructive.

“That was a good lesson. Even at 30 years old I learnt something that day.

We faced a team with strength which was difficult to master and to stop. It was really impressive.”

Foreign player rule

SO why have Toulon excluded Carl Hayman tomorrow? Well it comes down to limitations on the number of ‘foreign’ players in their squad — and what constitutes ‘foreign’.

South African and South Sea Island (Fiji, Tonga and Samoa) players are deemed qualified to play under EU regulations.

Therefore the issue surrounding foreign players usually applies to those from Australia, Argentina and New Zealand. ERC allows only two foreign players in any matchday squad. Once a player has completed 36 consecutive months of residence in the country of the union that has jurisdiction over his club, he is eligible. Contepomi, Lobbe and Hayman have not yet completed that consecutive period of residency in France, hence only two are eligible for tomorrow. George Smith qualifies under EU regulations as a South Sea Islander.