Many of the sides still involved in the European competitions also have much to play for domestically

THE FRENCH have a phrase which they sometimes apply in rugby circles, courir après deux lièvres, ie run after two hares.

It’s liable to become more apposite in the seasonal run-in as three mouth- watering French-Irish affairs loom in three weeks’ times.

Many of the sides still involved in either of the European competitions also have much to play for domestically. Leinster have arguably kept up their pursuit of both hares given they’ve reached the Heineken Cup semi-finals and top the Magners League, while although second in the table, Munster have arguably less elbow room if they are to earn a home semi-final as well as a place in the Heineken Cup final. But both sides will feel an acute need to rest their walking wounded over the next week or two.

The bleatings from across the channel about how the Irish sides are able to focus on European affairs actually has a degree of truth about it, and ditto their salary cap as against the free-spending French. Even so, in the long-term, retaining relegation/promotion and a degree of financial prudence may be no bad thing, especially if the salary cap forces them to develop and nurture more badly- needed home-grown talent.

But talk of a crisis may be premature. After all, no French side reached the semis a year ago. These things happen. Furthermore, reflecting on the only time two Irish provinces reached the semis in opposite halves of the draw in 2003, it’s worth recalling we ended up with an all-French final at Lansdowne Road between Toulouse and Perpignan.

For all the idle chat of Toulouse being in a state of crisis, unsurprisingly mid-April has arrived with them strongly placed on both fronts, their squad strength pouring through and the sun on their backs. Jeu de main, jeu de Toulousain – You play with your hands, you’re part of Toulouse. Crisis, what crisis? Toulouse are away to Bourgoin this weekend and at home to Castres in the last two full rounds of the Top 14 and with ground to make up (they lie fifth, but only three points behind second-placed Toulon) in the play-off picture.

The top two qualify for the semi-finals and so would have a week off after Euro semi-final weekend, whereas those who finish third to sixth will have a play-off a week later. But either way, Toulouse have the squad strength (and bench impact) to continue chasing both hares.

Biarritz have hit form with the return to form and fitness of their spine, ie Fabien Barcela at prop, Benoit August at hooker, Imanol Harinordoquy at eight, Dimitri Yachvili at scrumhalf and Damien Traille, and after their injuries, Barcela, Yachvili and Traille are, akin to Marcus Horan and Jerry Flannery, fresh. One place outside the top-six play-off/Heineken Cup qualifying places, they face a make-or-break penultimate game away to Racing Metro at the weekend, but if they don’t make the play-offs that will leave them with only the Heineken Cup to play for.

In truth, for the last couple of months, they’ve long since made it clear Europe is their priority.

Toulon, with Jonny Wilkinson, Felipe Contepomi, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, occasional guest star Tana Umaga and Sonny Bill Williams et al, boast a playing budget of €16.5 million, as opposed Connacht’s estimated €2.5 million, which means their Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final shouldn’t even be a contest.

Heretofore though, Philippe Saint-André’s team competed with almost two separate teams domestically and in Europe.

They have been the sensations of the French season, Saint-André insisting on French lessons for their multi-national squad and all briefings are conducted in French, fostering an unexpected togetherness in front of the most passionate fans in French rugby.

Currently second, they host champions and leaders Perpignan in front of a capacity 46,000 at Stade Velodrome this weekend.

If they obtain a top-two place, thereby earning a weekend off after the Connacht match, that may make them more dangerous than if they finish between third and sixth and therefore have a play-off the following week. They have qualified for next season’s Heineken Cup at any rate and the Bouclier de Brennus is their priority.

It could even be argued the weekend just gone was a good one for all four Irish provinces. The Ospreys made their long trek from San Sebastian to Belfast for tonight’s game against Ulster in what must have been a crestfallen mood. While Dan Biggar could not be said to have had a Brock James-type night, no less than Clermont at the RDS on Friday, they had opportunities galore to beat Biarritz aside from a last-ditch drop goal attempt.

Just to rub their noses in, they then move on to Dublin for a meeting with Leinster at the RDS on Friday. That’s three games in San Sebastian, Belfast and Dublin in seven days. That’s inhuman.

That said, the plot has thickened like never before for that third qualification place between Ulster and Connacht for next season’s Heineken Cup. Were Connacht to go all the way in the Challenge Cup, they would be guaranteed a place in the Heineken Cup regardless of the final standings in the Magners League. That would leave Ulster depending on Leinster or Munster earning Ireland an additional place in next season’s premier competition by winning the Heineken Cup, and thereby ensuring both Ulster and Connacht would qualify.

However, failing an Irish winner in either competition, then it will be a straight fight between Ulster and Connacht, who meet on the final weekend at Ravenhill, for that third position. As things stand, Ulster lead Connacht by four points and both have four matches remaining. After the Ospreys, Ulster have two trips to Scotland against the Warriors and Edinburgh before hosting Connacht.

Michael Bradley’s men host Munster on Sunday and then face a trek to the Scarlets while also squeezing in their postponed match at home to Leinster. The continuing involvement of Leinster and Connacht in Europe makes that more complicated, and Connacht’s visit to Ravenhill comes a week after the European semi-final weekend.

Having only one hare to chase may yet help Ulster.