The Craic on Tour in Pau
By Billy Hamilton
November 30 2004
This is I believe the first time we have ever revisited a European team in a competitive match. To mark the occasion we have asked one of those who were there three years ago, Billy Hamilton (a.k.a. Donaghadee) to write the preview.
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European Challenge Cup
2nd Round
Section Paloise v London Irish
Saturday 4th December 2004 Stade du Hameau, Pau
KO
7p.m
Referee: David Changeling (Scotland)
Sunday 12th December 2004 Madjeski Stadium KO 2.30 p.m.
Referee Rob Dickson (Scotland)
Preview
by Billy Hamilton
The second round of this year’s European Challenge Cup and The Craic on Tour moves this weekend to South-west France to the lovely city of Pau. This was the scene of one of our greatest triumphs in 2002. In that year we trounced a fancied Section Paloise (Pau) side in the quarterfinal of the Parker Pen Shield.
That was the season in which we won the cup but since then we have settled down to being a regular middle of the table side much the same as our opponents. Currently they lie 11th of the 16 teams in the French Championship. They are ranked 26th in Europe against our 17th place.
However going into this tie Pau come off a great win last Saturday. Their 29-20 defeat of Castres was enough to knock their opponents off the top of the table. With our defeat the gap between us was closed by 6 positions.
This season they have won 8 and drawn 1 of their 16 games. What is worrying is their home form. They have only lost once at home, to Biarritz, this season. At home they have beaten Perpignan, Toulouse, Agen and of course Castres. They have won only one game away and that was against GRAN Parma in this competition.
So how do I see the games going? We have the better track record but that does not count for anything with French sides. I don’t want to appear pessimistic but I think that we will be happy to come away with a narrow defeat in the first leg. Then it will be all to play for in Reading.
There will be two very familiar faces in the Pau line-up. Ludovic Mercier, formerly with Gloucester, plays at out half and seems to be just as deadly with the boot and is joined by Garrick Morgan, Australian international and former Harlequins player . Philippe Carbonneau the renowned French international scrum half is the best-known name on their side. So they have a deadly half back combination to be treated with all due respect. Winger Mathieu Dourthe, scrum-half Christophe Laussucq (France), Fernando Guatieri (Argentina), and Alexandru Manta (Romania) are the only other internationals in the squad.
The officials for both ties are all Scottish. The away tie is to be controlled by David Changleing assisted by Iain Rammage and Ronnie Dumma. The latter is also on the line with Mike Hall for the home game. The referee for this is Rob Dickson the man who is credited with assisting Ronan O’Gara to score that try against South Africa.
That’s enough rugby. What about the "Craic on Tour"? Believe me anyone who is going is in for a treat. When the draw was announced I was hoping for the right results in the first round that would have set up this game. Pau is a gastronomic delight. What seems to be the only McDonald in town is right on the outskirts and, apart from a branch of the French burger chain Quick, the city is a haven of slow food. Like most of the region duck is a speciality. They also have an appertif of Jurancon white wine, which is sweet, and to be savoured.
The Pau supporters use Le Paradoxe bar and there are a few other nice bars in the town. On the Boulevard des Pyrenees are a number of "International" bars. (That’s what I call them to get round my ban on Irish bars). We used the Black Bear last time and there is also a nice bar almost next door called something like the Irish Company.
The Saturday market is to be enjoyed with all the smells and sights of wine, cheese, fruit vegetables etc. A lot of the stallholders are rugby fans and welcoming to visitors.
So enjoy Pau but beat the hell out of them in the more austere backdrop of Reading.