Weekend previews While Bourgoin do not have the same cachet as other top French sides such as Toulouse or Stade Francais, the prospect of travelling to a provincial setting just 20 kilometres from Lyon in the heart of southwest France is enough to unsettle any squad.
Given Munster have an experienced look about the squad and are now considered one of the powerhouse teams in the competition, Bourgoin's test against them will surely be sold to the homesters and their supporters as the underdog town facing the powerful marauders intent on pilfering the match and setting the tone for the rest of their campaign.
Munster, to their credit, never arrive anywhere with foregone conclusions lodged in their heads and their trips to France in particular have been nothing less than torrid. On the last two occasions when the sides met the result went with home advantage. The meeting in the 1997/98 season went narrowly with Munster, 17-15 in Limerick, but in the return game Bourgoin had a more convincing 21-6 win at Stade Pierre Rajon.
Given the number of change in personnel, the score of five years ago is almost irrelevant, but what it may reflect is the strength of home advantage and, in the domain of small hand-painted stadiums and local brass bands kicking up the volume whenever the home team look like gaining a foothold in the match, even the best sides can become unsettled.
Thankfully Munster are the best side - notwithstanding the absence of full back Christian Cullen and Anthony Horgan - and although Munster will go into the game a match or two short of the optimum for such an important start, they still go in as favourites.
Their demolition of Cardiff last week suggests the quality players who returned to the side following World Cup duty have not taken too long to adjust to the different nuances and patterns of European level. And the hope is that it will even get better.
"Bourgoin are a physical and big side - from what we have seen of them," says Munster coach Alan Gaffney. "They are largely a forward-orientated side. They are extremely powerful in the set pieces and maul and are, to some extent, much like last year's Heineken Cup finalists Perpignan.
"But Bourgoin, who got through to the French Cup final and have some excellent form on the board, also have attacking backs and they will spin the ball.
"It is going to be tough for us over there. We are still a bit rusty - which is to be expected - and our preparation has been limited. But our performance against Cardiff Blues last weekend was a big plus and the team did exceptionally well.
"I don't imagine anyone is under any illusion about the size of the task that lies ahead of us. Bourgoin may not conjure up the same images as, say, Toulouse, Biarritz or Stade (Francais) but make no mistake - they are a very good side.
"They've had the benefit of having almost their entire squad available during the World Cup period. Only Sebastien Chabal and Olivier Milloud were in Australia, and they've strung together some pretty impressive performances. They've a big pack with plenty of pace in the backs."
In the pool, Munster and Gloucester are expected to fight it out for dominance. Bourgoin have the fewest internationals of the French clubs in the competition, while Treviso will be expected to prop up the table.
Treviso have 16 Italian internationals in their squad, including veteran scrum-half and skipper Alessandro Troncon, but have won just 10 of 30 cup matches. Results against them could of course decide final placings if it finishes tight for the other three.
Gaffney has 21 internationals at his disposal. In outhalf Ronan O'Gara, he has one of only two players to score 500 European Cup points and his head-to-head against Benjamin Boyet could be a feature of the match.
But with strength running through the side and with players of the calibre of Rob Henderson on the bench, and David Wallace at openside flanker intent on proving to Eddie O'Sullivan that his international career still has some way to go, the visitors look strong enough for a positive start on foreign soil.
BOURGOIN: A Peclier; A Forest, F Fritz, G Davis, J Coux; B Boyet, C Laussuco; W Bonet, J-P Bonrepaux, P Peyron, J Pierre, P Pape, A Bias, S Chabal, P Raschi. Replacements: J Bouic, B Cabello, P Caillet, N Portier, M Forest, K Zhakatta, G Estheruizen, M James.
MUNSTER: J Staunton; J Kelly, M Mullins, J Holland, S Payne; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, P O'Connell, D O'Callaghan, J Williams (captain), D Wallace, A Foley. Replacements: G McIlwham, J Blaney, S Keogh, AN Other, E Reddan, R Henderson, M Lawlor.
Referee: N Whitehouse (England)
VERDICT: Munster
Bourgoin v Munster
Stade Pierre Rajon,
Saturday, 5.0 (Irish time)
