RUGBY: Johnny Watterson talks to Scotland and Castres outhalf Gregor Townsend as he prepares to face Munster at the Stade Pierre-Antoine on Saturday

If Gregor Townsend carried his prudent off-field assurance onto the pitch, he would engage the outhalf role with a measured diligence and professional manner far removed from unbridled and unsustainable creative urges. But Townsend doesn't do that. The British and Irish Lion never has.

Townsend's legacy as a player is already cast in stone and at just 28 remains a pivotal player at Castres and with Scotland. The mercurial outhalf, who has been equally prone to nightmare performances as he has been to displays that most players could only aspire to in flights of fantasy, is one of the few people who, when he steps onto the pitch, a fear alarm goes off in the opposition.

He is blessed with dazzling pace, sleight of hand and a beguiling ability to create space for himself. While it has not been all idolatry, with his potential he remains a valued player. Occasionally difficult to legislate for within his own team, it is equally testing for opposing coaches to prescribe against him.

That Graham Henry selected Munster's Ronan O'Gara ahead of the Scot for the outhalf position in the 2001 Lions tour to Australia brings an added personal conflict to Saturday's final Pool Four match in Stade Pierre-Antoine.

In their first pool meeting in Thomond Park in September, it was O'Gara who emerged from the midfield duel feeling a little more justified, the 28-23 home win patching over any perceived blots in the Munster performance. Just one try scored and the rest from O'Gara's boot gave round one to the Irish man. Scotland's subsequent manoeuvre in Ireland's doomed rescheduled Six Nations match and . . . well, you could say it's 1-1.

That Arneaud Costes, Castres' abrasive flanker, was sin binned in the European Cup clash after 11 minutes for killing ball and Romain Froment yellow carded eight minutes into the second half for deliberate off side, impetuosity no doubt helped Munster's claim on the match.

"We learned a lot about discipline," says Townsend. "There has been a conscious effort to sort out that aspect of our game. When we lost last year to Munster we got two yellow cards and we also gave Ronan (O'Gara) a few penalties in front of our posts. It's up to players on the day to be disciplined."

Last season Castres were also in Munster" pool. The Irish team turned them over 32-29 in France before winning the home leg 21-11. The 32 points scored against represented the joint biggest total scored against Castres in last year's European competition and that was in a group which included Newport and Bath, the other team to reach that 32-point mark.

"We played Munster twice last year and once already this season," he says. "The players know a fair bit amount about them. I've seen them on television a good few times and I know some of the players. I've given tapes to the club and the players will have a good look this week.

"This year, in an Irish context, Munster were probably expected to win the Celtic League. So they've obviously lost their place as the number one Irish team but there's a great depth in Irish rugby at the moment and in the past Munster probably have not had to deal with that much injury. Rob (Henderson) obviously hasn't played that much and the team has always been injury free - maybe that has affected them a little bit this season.

"But the Harlequins coach said that no one would beat them in Munster, not even Leicester, so from that you can take that Munster are still a strong side."

With a population of 50,000 and a ground that can squeeze in 10,000 fans, Castres expect a large turn out. Munster, along with Bath, Leicester and Leinster remain the only unbeaten teams after five matches. But Castres can still qualify for a home quarter final tie if they win and score more tries than Munster. If the try count remains the same they will chase a better points difference. Each side scored one try in Munster's 28-23 win at the end of September.

"Home advantage should be big, although, Munster beat us last year so they've shown that they have a game to win out here. But last year we didn't start too well and now we've won the last four games. I'd have thought the British and Irish press would go for Munster because they saw them winning out here last season. But the French press would be tipping us to win.

"The thing is that we need more than a win but also to score more tries than Munster. We won't go into the match with that in mind. We'll go in looking for the win and then maybe in the last 10 minutes it will play on player's minds."

Possibly back playing with a Borders Scottish side next season, under Kiwi Tony Gilbert as Scotland regroup, Townsend personifies the creative French impulse. But, he notes, the rugby is becoming more homogeneous.

"Since the European Cup I think teams are now playing similar rugby. When you look at Leinster or Leicester, it could be Stade or Toulouse.

"There's not too much difference between the style as there was a few years ago. We will play with a lot of pace and counter-attack," he says.

To Castres from Brive, the Scot's experience is broad. There is an unsettling confidence to his voice, an easy willingness to acknowledge Munster's strength's but knowing too that Castres will represent a mountainous challenge. "We've also a good back line at Castres," he says. "I know that makes my life easier."

And, little doubt it will make Munster's harder.