Weakened Castres won't roll over

If the truth be told, Castres Olympique weren't much of a rugby force prior to 1989, and still wouldn't be were it not for the emergence of Pierre Fabre as benefactor. Then again, Castres (population about 40,000) would scarcely exist if it weren't for the cosmetics and pharmaceutical magnate.

In 1989, Fabre decided to lend his financial backing toward the town's rugby team, installing Pierre Ravol as president of the club, a position the latter still holds. Needless to say, Fabre had to invest selectively in foreign talent, and the policy reaped a pretty quick dividend when Gary Whetton led the side to the French Championship in 1993 during his legendary three-year stint with the club.

Proof, were it needed, of Whetton's standing in Castres folklore was provided prior to the kick-off of Munster's second visit to the Stade Pierre Antoine in 2000, when the introduction of the former All Black lock to the crowd prompted the kind of reaction you'd expected the Boca Juniors crowd to afford Diego Maradona.

However, Castres have failed to land a major trophy since. Back in the early 1990s, imports from abroad and from within France tended to work in the Pierre Fabre company, much like the locals. But although the club still has a reputation for rewarding its players well, it is felt the advent of professionalism diluted that umbilical link with the town and its most expressive manifestation, namely the rugby club.

Foreign imports still have to win over the demanding local support, and it is testimony to the Irish and Ulster lock Jeremy Davidson he did so to such an extent that he was made captain. Hereabouts, they appreciate forward play, and making another All Black legend Kees Meeuws captain is something of a spiritual reversion to those days of 1993.

The summer acquisition of the highly respected coach Laurent Seigne, whose Bourgoin sides tended to amount to more than the sum of their limited parts (domestically, if not in Europe) is also seen as a return to those early 1990s roots. Ironically, Bourgoin sustained their interest sufficiently to seriously dent Leinster's ambitions last time out under Christophe Urios, who went in the opposite direction from Castres, whereas Seigne's team selection for tonight's game might lead one to believe he has thrown his hat at another Euro adventure now that Castres are out of contention. He has made seven personnel changes, and one positional, from the side which routed Montpellier last week.

In addition to Meeuws (ruled out for four weeks), and the promising prop Yannick Forestier, most significantly of all their experienced and gifted, if mercurial, summer acquisition from Toulouse, Yann Delaigue, does not feature after failing to recover from a neck injury sustained in a high tackle last week.

Although the passing years have seen the 32-year-old Delaigue take even less of an interest in his physical defensive work, the upturn in Castres' results this season have invariably coincided with Delaigue's presence on the pitch.

Furthermore, centre Laurent Marticorena is not playing, while the likes of Remy Vigneux, Nicolas Spanghero, Ronan O'Gara's old sledging mate Paul Volley and the livewire scrumhalf Alexandre Albouy are all on the bench.

That's not to say Castres will roll over and die, least of all against their old foes Munster and at their Stade Pierre Antoine home. An aggregate of 118 points in their last two games there (against Pau and Montpellier) either side of Christmas is a telling example of their greater potency at home, and with Phil Christophers, nominally a wing or centre, at fullback they certainly have a pacey and imported outside three.

Laloaoa Milford, the Samoan/Australian formerly with Kronulla rugby league side, scored two of their four tries in the opening victory here over Dragons, and one score last week from long-range, featuring steps off both feet while at full tilt and hardly breaking stride, amply demonstrated how devastating the Samoan can be.

Castres and Munster do have "history", and they have incurred six yellow cards between them this season (Munster four of them). Indeed, the old red mist continued to afflict Castres last season when they incurred 31 yellow cards and one red in 30 championship matches.

As ever hereabouts, keeping a cool head while some might be losing theirs could be as critical as any technical aspect of tonight's latest set-to.