Why the French are not intoxicated by the Heineken Cup
Muddled refereeing punishes the robust Gallic approach and leaves players the world over confused according to Paul rees writing in the Guardian
"French clubs have never been in love with the Heineken Cup, or the H Cup as government legislation there forces them to call it. Their national league, long and drawn-out as it is, comes first and second for most, with Europe an often unwelcome diversion.
"In the early years of the Heineken Cup, French sides found refereeing tolerance thresholds much lower than they were used to. Brawls ended up in bans and malpractice such as gouging cost some players their careers. It helped convince Bernard Laporte, the France coach from 1999 to 2007, that to succeed on the European and world stage the French needed to become disciplined. It did not come easily, or quickly."
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