When it comes to announcing national squads there's nothing like a bit of domestic form. Marc Lièvremont – not that the master of concealed feelings is likely to show it – must have been pleased then with the French set of results from the second round of the Heineken Cup, especially in those big clashes with the English clubs. In brief: Top 14 of France 4, Guinness Premiership of England 0, with Biarritz and Perpignan in imperious form at home, and Stade Français and Toulouse pinching wins on the road.
If there was one player who, as they say, put his hand up it was, for me, Maxime Mermoz, the Perpignan centre. He obviously has a fine understanding with David Marty, but he looked the complete package as an individual and seemed to get on perfectly well with everybody else in his team. France face South Africa and New Zealand in November and will no doubt appreciate an abundance of midfield talent.
Quite where that leaves Mathieu Bastareaud, of the Stade Français midfield, remains to be seen. Bastareaud was at the centre of the weird diplomatic incident on France's tour of New Zealand last summer, claiming to have been assaulted on the mean streets of Wellington whereas in reality he had a drunken moment in his own hotel room, and has either been injured, suspended, in rehab or doing community service ever since.
Apparently, his reconciliation with rugby in general and Lièvremont in particular would be facilitated by a simple apology, but as a product of his age Bastareaud may be thinking that since nobody else in the world ever says sorry why should he start? Anyway, his club, with or without him, have one of the fixtures of the weekend in the 10th round of the Top 14, facing Perpignan in one of those showbiz extravaganzas at the Stade de France late on Saturday afternoon.
If there is a rival to the pink parade it will be in Toulouse where revitalised Biarritz are the visitors, although the Basques have taken some of the steam out of the engagement by saying that Jérôme Thion, Damien Traille and Magnus Lund, ever present thus far, will be rested. The normal service of home wins in the regular Top 14 season should not be interrupted, either in Paris or Toulouse.
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