Heineken Cup / Leinster v Bourgoin: So, will the real Bourgoin turn up today? This, undoubtedly, is the major talking point in advance of a return double meeting between the relatively unfashionable but again high-achieving French side and Leinster, and all the indications are that this time Bourgoin will not be taking a dilettantish attitude to proceedings.
Bourgoin's desultory non-show in Lansdowne Road last year when beaten 92-17 sparked such opprobrium that the French would have had to be living in a bunker to miss it, and sure enough, all the noises this week suggest they have taken heed.
Bourgoin's director of rugby, Pierre Raschi, who captained the side in last year's return meeting at Stade Pierre Rajon - when Bourgoin were much truer to type and Leinster were indebted to arguably the match-winning try of the season by Brian O'Driscoll - but has since retired, was unequivocal this week: "For us, the games against Leinster in particular are about showing people the real Bourgoin, that we have real heart as a team and that we want to do well in this tournament. I think we have it in us to win. We are lucky enough to have a full squad available for the games against Leinster, which will enable us to be real competitors in the pool."
As events have transpired, their inspirational backrower Julien Bonnaire has been ruled out with a broken finger sustained in last week's win at home to Clermont Auvergne, which keeps them in the leading pack domestically. Otherwise they show no changes from last week.
In the heel of the hunt therefore, only two of the side who rolled over and had their bellies tickled in Dublin a year ago line up at the kick-off, whereas there are 11 of the side that nearly won the return. Aside from Bonnaire and Raschi, also missing is their France lock Pascal Pape, sidelined with chronic lumbago.
One ventures, therefore, that as long as Bourgoin are in contention on the scoreboard they will stay interested. Nonetheless, they have lost their last nine in a row away from home in the European Cup. Indeed, old French habits apparently die hard, and they have lost five of their seven away games this season, including their last four, to Perpignan (27-3), Biarritz (10-29), Bath (12-39) and Castres (16-29).
Leinster, however, scarcely resemble the side that recorded that double over Bourgoin, such has been the turnover in personnel and injuries. Only seven of that side start today.
As expected, one of those, Malcolm O'Kelly, returns from his mandatory lay-off for concussion, while the only other change sees Brian Blaney make his first Cup start ahead of his brother David in place of the injured Bernard Jackman. Despite Jackman's absence, Michael Cheika has again preferred Bryce Williams ahead of Ben Gissing, which would seem to leave the tight five short in the ball-carrying department, while Guy Easterby is preferred to Brian O'Riordan.
Leinster, denied a high tempo by Bath's tactics and Nigel Whitehouse's refereeing in their last home game in this competition, will need to establish that quick tempo early and maintain it.
"They're a typical French team and we will have to be aggressive from the start. They have a big pack and are quite a dynamic side with a good number 10 who has a strong passing game. We need to pressure them, play with pace and be aggressive," says Cheika.
LEINSTER: G Dempsey; K Lewis, G D'Arcy, S Horgan, R Kearney; F Contepomi (capt), G Easterby; R Corrigan, B Blaney, W Green; M O'Kelly, B Williams; E Miller, K Gleeson, J Heaslip. Replacements: D Blaney, E Byrne, B Gissing, C Jowitt, B O'Riordan, E Hickey, J Hepworth.
BOURGOIN: A Peclier; A Forest, I Giorgadze, G Davis, J-F Coux; B Boyet, M Forst (capt); O Milloud, B Cabello, R Peyron; J Pierre, C Del-Favqa; J Frier, L Baluc-Rittener, A Petrilli. Replacements: P Cardinali, D Khinchagishvili, F Montagnat, W Jooste, M Campeggia, D Venditti, N Carmona.
Referee: R Dickson (Scotland).
Previous meetings: (2004-5) Leinster 92 Bourgoin 17; Bourgoin 23 Leinster 26.
Betting (Paddy Power): 1/7 Leinster, 25/1 Draw, 4/1 Bourgoin. Handicap odds (= Bourgoin +12pts) 10/11 Leinster, 25/1 Draw, 10/11 Bourgoin.
Forecast: Leinster to win.
RDS, 5.15pm On TV: RTÉ 2, Sky Sports 2
