We don’t fear anyone, insists Rolland

Castres lock forward Matthias Rolland tells Ian Moriarty why the French side are no longer prepared to make up the numbers at Europe’s top table

HIS memories of that day have not diminished with time. Matthias Rolland remembers the cheers from the 200 or so Montauban supporters as scrum-half Petre Mitru’s penalty sailed through the posts, to put the French side 16-17 up with just minutes left on the Thomond Park clock. Here they were, the minnows of French rugby, putting the 2008 European Champions to the sword.

In the end, it wasn’t to be for Rolland and his merry men thanks to a late penalty from Ronan O’Gara, but it wasn’t a bad first taste of Heineken Cup action for the second row from Dijon.