December looks set to be a crunch month for the Irish provinces and the likely French contenders who pack a serious punch writes GERRY THORNLEY

THE ARROGANT demands, tactics and pronouncements of the English clubs and their agent provocateur Mark McCafferty, coupled with the ensuing threat posed to the future of the Heineken Cup beyond 2014 (for the English have form here, whatever about on the pitch) add a slight sense of foreboding to the upcoming blue riband of European club rugby.

But it may also be a timely reminder as to how valuable the tournament is to the European game and help to sharpen an old historical edge to some fixtures; especially Anglo/Celtic ones.

Rather than lament the supposed inequalities of the supposedly easy-going Rabo Direct Pro12 as against their own magnificent, ultra-competitive Premiership and Top 14, the English and French club owners in particular might reflect that for years it was the very presence of relegation which supposedly heightened their competitive edge and made their league such a superior stepping stone to conquering Europe.

The reality is that the Irish provinces in particular have just become a little smarter in their player management.

It really is a bit rich of the wealthier French clubs to demand a greater slice of the ERC cake so they can supplement their heavily laden squads with yet more acquisitions from abroad. Or that the Celts should pay for the French clubs’ own expansionist tendencies as they prioritise their Top 14; swelling its numbers from 12 to 14 and adding in an additional round of matches.

Truly it’s hard to know what to make of the French. Castres, Montpellier and Racing hardly look primed for an assault on Europe, all the more so after Racing yesterday confirmed their decision to replace Gonzalo Quesada at the end of the season, only a couple of months after he had taken over from Pierre Berbizier. It seems a bizarre way to run a club, but then the Top 14 is something of a circus.

The nouveau riche Toulon would clearly love a Bouclier de Brennus but are so lavishly assembled that even cocking a snoot at Europe they could still win it. Bernard Laporte asked for a stronger hand this season and, with more than 25 internationals at his disposal, and Dannie Roussouw the latest addition to be confirmed last week, duly has one, courtesy of the high profile, highly ambitious benefactor Mourad Boudjellal. A brash, bullish, ruthlessly confrontational side at the breakdown, they can swap entire match day 15s and still progress to both le barrage and the H Cup knock-out stages.

Indeed, with budgets that dwarf their main competitors, it’s not as if Toulon, Toulouse and Clermont aren’t all seemingly destined for the knock-out stages of the Top 14, as has been the case for the latter two for aeons. When one reflects on Clermont’s narrow loss to Leinster in last season’s semi-finals, it’s worth noting Vern Cotter was able to rest virtually his entire front-line XV the week beforehand.

Joe Schmidt, who is better qualified than anyone to make a judgement on this, has nothing like the same array of seasoned and cosmopolitan internationals with which to replace like with like. As an example, he cites the midfield options alone at the disposal of his erstwhile boss. If not inclined to go with last season’s first-choice midfield of Wesley Fofana and Aurelien Rougerie, he can perm any two from ex-All Black Regan King, ex-Samoan centre Gavin Williams or new recruit Benson Stanley.

And so it goes on. One semi-final thus far is a fairly slim return for such a well budgeted, well-coached multi-talented league of nations, and the euro seems to have dropped in Clermont now. Having reached their holy grail three season with a first Bouclier de Brennus, last season Vern Cotter and captain Aurelien Rougerie especially made no attempt to hide their covetous approach to the H Cup.

Prior to Saturday’s opener at home to the Scarlets, Cotter rested Rougerie and another key man, Morgan Parra, amongst others for last week’s narrow defeat at Castres in what amounts to an real statement of intent. But as Michael Cheika said, having Clermont in their line of vision should keep Leinster on edge.

Privately, Schmidt is probably grateful that his three-in-a-row seeking side are not facing his old team until December, not that he will be taking Exeter or the Scarlets lightly. Rob Baxter is probably the club coach of the last couple of years for what has been achieved at Exeter, and they will take a fearless abandon into their debut at the RDS on Saturday.

Schmidt ought hopefully to have a better hand to play with in December, especially as Sean O’Brien should be back by then. Leinster miss his ballast, as do Munster with David Wallace. They too will be grateful they are not meeting Saracens until December, by which stage Paul O’Connell should be back in harness, whereas Ulster – with Ruan Pienaar now rejoining Rory Best, Stephen Ferris, Tommy Bowe et al – probably feel they could take on Northampton or anybody else right now.

It looks like December will be something of a make-or-break month for many, and particularly the three main Irish contenders. This will be the month when, for the fourth year running, Leinster and Clermont collide before the final, when in truth it could have been the final.