European Challenge Cup, round six preview: Brive seek
quarterfinal berth after Italian job
22 January
2009
Brive
are hoping to secure their quarter-final berth when they
entertain Italian club Overmach Parma Rugby in the European
Challenge Cup.
The
in-form Top 14 side have targeted success in this
competition from the start of the season and go into
tonight’s game on the back of an impressive recent run that
has seen them win eight of their last nine games in all
competitions.
Another
victory this evening would ensure their progress through to
the last eight, as well as help erase the memories of their
34-29 away defeat to Parma back in October.
Furthermore, it could take many of the club’s British
players a step closer to facing their previous employers,
with Steve Thompson and Ben Cohen among a group of
ex-Northampton Saints now with Brive.
The
French side are currently top of Pool 4 after their narrow
10-9 away win at Newcastle Falcons last weekend, but
Thompson knows nothing can be taken for granted.
A
bonus-point win would be ideal but the former England hooker
acknowledged that securing the victory alone would be their
primary target. “This is going to be a tough game,” he
warned.
But the
England World Cup winner said team spirit was high due to
recent results, with the home crowd getting ever more vocal
as their progress through the competition continues.
“We are
really confident going into this game. We had a narrow loss
to Perpignan but the wins against Toulon and Newcastle have
really boosted the morale in the camp and we’re looking
forward to this weekend.
“Getting
a home quarter-final would be great for the fans and the
club. We’d love to give the supporters the chance to see us
play a knock-out game at home, but home games are less
important to us than they used to be,” he added.
European Challenge Cup tables
And
Thompson said the higher profile of European club rugby
tournaments was also a welcome boost for those British
players at Brive still holding international ambitions.
Fly-half
Andy Goode has been in excellent form over the past three
months and his call-up to train with England has been
welcomed, with Thompson claiming it showed that playing in
Top 14 did not necessarily mean “dropping out of sight and
off the radar”.
Elsewhere in the ECC, French teams are
playing for pride, with Dax, Mont-de-Marsan and Bourgoin all
in action on Friday as they take on Connacht, Saracens and
Bucuresti Oaks respectively.
Dax
are still bottom of Pool 1 despite their 22-20 home win
against Rovigo last week, while Mont-de-Marsan take
on pool 5 leaders Saracens looking to avoid a clean sweep of
losses.
Bourgoin have at least won twice
in Pool 3 and could finish in second place (behind
Worcester) if they triumph at home against Bucuresti.
On
Saturday the focus will be firmly on Franklin’s Gardens as
runaway Pool 2 leaders Northampton Saints play host to Top
14 strugglers Toulon. The match has added spice for
several reasons, not least of which is the fate of Toulon
head coach Tana Umaga following news that club owner Mourad
Boudjellal is expected to unveil Philippe Saint-Andre as the
club’s new head coach for next season at a press conference
on Monday.
Toulon’s
rumoured interest during the week in Saints fly-half Carlos
Spencer has added further intrigue, with the French side –
who will be captained by Mafileo Kefu - also desperate to
put in a better display than when they went down 3-56 at
home in the opening round of matches.
Bayonne are also in action on
Saturday, away to Viadana as they conclude their Pool 5
campaign.
Finally, Montpellier
bring down the European curtain on Sunday afternoon when
they travel to Bristol in Pool 2 looking to break a
three-match losing streak.
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