EUROPEAN CUP POOL TWO:The current form of the French clubs in Munster and Leinster's European pools are worth a glance as the Irish provinces head into their season-defining games on January 16th and 17th respectively, writes Gavin Cummiskey
JEREMY DAVIDSON is best placed to run the rule over the possibilities as the Heineken European Cup Pool Two reaches its climax.
Unfortunately for him, and fellow Castres coach Mark McCall, they are not in the shake-up for the knock-out stages of the competition but they could yet have a significant influence on Leinster's progress when they host London Wasps in round six on January 25th.
Castres and Davidson have their own problems, however. The club just leapfrogged Tana Umaga's Toulon at the weekend but remain perilously close to the relegation zone of the Top 14. Along with former Ulster head coach McCall, it is already confirmed he will be departing at the season's end and intends to leave them just as he found them.
That doesn't mean Castres won't make Wasps earn every inch down in the south of France.
"We are now up to 12th but know we are still in the relegation fight so at the moment it is all hands on deck," said the two-time British and Irish Lions tourist. "Realistically, Europe is not a priority to us but we will still do our best.
"It actually works out in Leinster's favour as we have a game the following week in the championship so we will take Wasps more seriously. By that I mean we will put out a stronger team than the one we bring to Edinburgh."
It will hardly matter if Leinster win at Twickenham on Saturday week but as Wasps proved in their 24-18 defeat of Harlequins, Ian McGeehan's (Davidson's old Lions coach) team are coming into form at the right time.
"Wasps have been such a shaky ship this season," continued Davidson. "They do still have the potential to play rugby from the gods or be atrocious. But they have struggled up until Christmas before only to thereafter come back and win everything. You can never write them off.
"Really, it is do or die for Leinster at Twickenham. They got a fair amount of stick for under-performing at home against the team we sent over and again over here despite losing to our near full-strength side."
On his departure from Castres this summer, the former Irish lock, capped 32 times between 1995 and 2001 and still only 34, was keen to note a non-acrimonious parting of ways from the club he had previously joined back in 1998 as a player before injury enforced early retirement.
"The club are responsible for bringing in too many foreign players. Castres is a small town and it is difficult to get really good French players to join as they tend to go to the big clubs like Biarritz and Toulouse or Stade Francais, even though we finished in fifth place and ahead of Biarritz last season. Really that was over-performing as we have the 13th best budget of the Top 14 clubs.
"Too many foreigners is not good for the club or the French league itself and has a knock-on effect on the French national team.
"Having two foreign coaches doesn't help either. Therefore, after a poor start to the season they got two French coaches from Montauban for next season. Realistically, Mark and I were under no illusions. I know Mark was definitely leaving and I'm not sure I would have stayed on for a third season.
"I think it was misinterpreted back in Ireland at the time. Sure, if they thought we were solely responsible for the poor start to the season I don't think we would still be here now trying to ensure we avoid relegation."
So we can expect to see Davidson back coaching, potentially closer to home, next season?
"Definitely. I'm keen to move around and get as much experience as possible as a coach. I have gained two vital years of knowledge down here in Castes and hope to continue in professional rugby."
Long term, that can only be seen as a bonus for Irish rugby.
• French Connection
The current form of the French clubs in Munster and Leinster's European pools are worth a glance as the Irish provinces head into their their season-defining games on January 16th and 17th respectively.
Munster host the Sale Sharks on Friday week, Leinster travel to Twickenham to face London Wasps the next day, and while Montauban and Castres cannot make the knockout stages, Clermont Auvergne retain an outside chance, they can all influence the final standings.
Should Munster lose to Sale at Thomond Park, they must travel down to the Stade de Sapiac for round six on January 24th needing to beat Montauban to qualify for the quarter-finals, while hoping Clermont win at Edgeley Park.
Montauban remain stranded in mid-table of the French Top 14 after losing to bottom club Mont de Marsan last weekend.
Clermont, now refocused on the domestic front, moved into the top four with the 32-5 defeat of Toulon. That result puts Toulon back in the relegation zone after Castres managed to draw 13-13 away to Bayonne. Castres, where Ulster men Jeremy Davidson and Mark McCall are currently on the coaching staff, have an irrelevant match against Edinburgh next week but Wasps must travel down there for round six - with Leinster potentially needing a favour should they lose in London. Considering Castres haven't won a game since November 15th, they cannot really rely on such a result.
• French Top 14
PWDLFABPPts
Stade Toul141202345178453
Stade Français141103380234650
Perpignan131003276184343
Clermont14806304202340
Bayonne14914246266139
Montauban14617293320333
Brive13625269234232
Montpellier14707225301232
Dax 14518233300026
Biarritz14509262252226
Bourgoin144010227270024
Castres 14329231277021
Toulon143110182293020
Mont-de-Marsan144010179341019
