Exiles Visit France for a Mighty Pau-wow
This weekend sees yet another break from the AG premiership, this time to participate in the European Challenge Cup, a competition still without a headline sponsor.There is a change to the format this year, with a group stage deciding the eventual quarter-finalists, just like the Heineken Cup, only with the crap teams!
Our group contains Agen, Parma and Pau. The first fixture pits London Irish against our conquerors from the last campaign in the shape of Pau, thus ensuring another visit to Stade du Hameau for what will be a quality rugby weekend.
So what of Pau since they beat is on aggregate over two legs last season?
Well, they went on to lose the Final against Sale in that three-sided shite-pit that is the Kassam in this competition, but it was at home that they struggled. Pau had to win their play-off match with lowly Aurillac to maintain their top fourteen place by the skin of their teeth.
The new campaign has not warranted the best start either, with only nine points on the board from their opening nine games, rooting them firmly to the bottom of the table, behind the newly promoted Toulon. Ludo Mercier fecked off back to Gloucester to the Cherry & Whites to receive his hero worship from the west country lads, leaving Pau without the play-maker that controlled both of the games against the Exiles last time around.
The green and white's have been lead this year by the former international Christophe Laussucq, but have struggled to get new blood to follow him, with the major French clubs plucking the cream to fill their ranks without the constraints of a Salary cap. In fact, the top fourteen in France does provide a view into the future if the RFU were to drop the Salary cap, as the current top seven (all their Heineken Cup teams) get stronger, while the peasants nick their scraps.
Players from the premiership to make their way to Pau over the summer include Ramiro Pez from Barf and Ace Tiatia, the dirty fecker from the Quins, although I am unsure if the squat geezer is still there or not. I know he signed, but can't find owt on his performances, not even mentions of yellow cards.
Irish need not go into this fixture with any fear. The squad is getting bigger by the month both in size and strength, but also in belief and ability. Saying that (feck!!), we are in fact, on a three game losing run since the nerve-jangling Brizzle match. Ah, but it is grand as two of these games were in the Anglo-Taffy Plate. Those games have seen squad players attempting to bolt down a regular place over the more fancied seasoned pros. Competition for places is always a healthy thing at any club, all be it a newer concept for the exiles. In the other defeat, to Saints at the weekend, the Irish can take great heart and confidence from the overall defence performance into this game.
This match will also provide the likes of Rautenbach the chance to learn the LI way under Brian Smith, get to know his team mates a lot better and show us what he can do. He may even get the chance to drink shite-loads, sing disgusting songs and get naked to 'Singing-in-the-rain', if the tour goes as well as my old trips to France!
The small(!!) glimpses of this fecking big fella on Saturday, gives most of us hope and should go a long way in stabilising the scrum. He will be needed on Saturday.
For all those staying this side of the channel, then enjoy the real European Cup with coverage of six Heineken Cup matches on Sky over the weekend. The festival of top class rugby starts with Sale visiting Thomond Park on Friday night. We shall be there next season lads, so calm.
Those going to Pau will have a fantastic weekend, and remember, the real European Cup starts on Friday. I am sure we can find some decent games to watch!
-- Master Scribe