Provinces keep eye on French factor

Munster and Leinster fans will have a keen eye on an all-French Heineken Cup tie today — and not just because it contains a potential quarter-final opponent.

Amid all the head-melting permutations that accompany the Heineken Cup’s final pool stage games, the clash of Montpellier and Toulon at Stade Yves du Manoir (3.40pm Irish time) has major implications for both Irish provinces.

Montpellier need two points from the clash to join already-qualified Toulon in the quarter-finals. A draw or a loss by less than seven points while scoring four tries would likely be enough to book a place in the last eight.

That would pitch the Irish provinces against each other in a battle for the last best runners-up spot; Rob Penney and Joe Schmidt will therefore be hoping for a Toulon victory to keep both slots free before their sides do battle.

Although only in their second season of Heineken Cup rugby — they were in Leinster’s pool last year — Montpellier have won their last four games on the trot, doing the double over both Sale and Cardiff Blues. Their sole defeat this year came in round one, a 37-16 reverse in Toulon.

Toulon have already qualified for the last eight but travel along the Mediteranen coast looking to secure a home draw in the quarter-finals.

MONTPELLIER: P Bérard; T Nagusa, T Combezou, S Fernandez, Y Audrin; F Trinh-Duc, B Paillaugue; M Nariashvili, A Crevy, M Bustos; M Demarco, M Gorgodze; A Bias, J Beattie, A Tulou.

Replacements: R van Vuuren, Y Watremez, B Fa’amausili, A Fakate, T Privat, K Galletier, E Escande, L Amorosino.

TOULON: D Armitage; R Wulf, M Mermoz, M Giteau, A Palisson; J Wilkinson, F Michalak; A Sheridan, M Ivaldi, D Kubriashvili; S Shaw, J Suta; P Gunther, S Armitage, C Masoe.

Replacements: J-C Orioli, G Jenkins, C Hayman, N Kennedy, M Bastareaud, J-M Fernandez Lobbe, V Martin, J van Niekerk.

Referee: A Rolland (Ireland)