Munster have played in the tiny French town on two occasions in the past, winning one game by a single point and losing the other, but on both occasions it was a far from comfortable experience. Some Munster players have likened the Pierre Rajon experience to that of Thomond Park, but the plush 30,000 capacity stadium in the modern Swiss city would be far more amenable to an away victory. Fingers crossed it happens.

GREY DAYS WON'T BE EASY ON THE EYE
Remember the Manchester United shirt furore about 10 years back, when Alex Ferguson and a number of his players blamed a heavy defeat to Southampton on the fact that their new grey away jersey was difficult to spot? Well, Munster's new grey 'alternative strip' (left) has already stoked the ire of a number of spectators. Declan Kidney's side wore the strip during their pre-season friendly against Leicester back in August and both supporters and journalists alike found it difficult on the eye, especially if you looked away from the pitch for a moment and then tried to refocus on play. There's been no complaints from the players as of yet but it'll be interesting to see the reaction should Munster go down to a heavy defeat wearing the strip over the coming season.
Declan Kidney as Alex Ferguson?
We can't wait to see that one.

THE LAW LIBRARY
We're going to have to wait a while to see a change to the uncontested scrum law at all levels of rugby.

Premier Rugby, the umbrella group that represents the 12 Guinness Premiership clubs, had made representations to the RFU to ensure that a side that was unable to field a full front row at any point in a game would have to forfeit another man, almost as a punishment for forcing uncontested scrums. The IRB, though, stepped in while the RFU were considering the request from Premier Rugby and the regulation won't come into force this season, and it now may be held over until after the World Cup. Shame really, because it makes complete sense if the IRB do actually want the scrum to remain an integral part of the game.

WHY EDEN IS FAR FROM BEING PARADISE
There could be a change of venue for the 2011 World Cup final. The NZRU's initial plan was to redevelop Eden Park, the legendary Auckland venue, into a 60,000 capacity stadium for the event but now the country's World Cup Minister (yes, they do actually have one) has caused a bit of a stir by stating that other venues in downtown Auckland are now being investigated. Any Irish fan who's ever tried to get to Eden Park will be thrilled by the news. A famous venue it may be, but the stadium itself is situated right in the middle of a residential area and it's a nightmare to get in and out of. Especially with the rain pouring down, as it routinely does. Fingers crossed they pick a cosy spot down the waterfront and put a proper roof on it.

GREAT MOMENTS IN IRISH RUGBY
NUMBER 1 . . . William Webb Ellis invents rugby, at, ah, Rugby school What's this got to do with Irish rugby, we hear you say? An English toff picking up a football in his pretty public school surroundings and running for a couple of yards with it under his arm? Well, certain recountings of the tale insist two things, firstly that Webb Ellis was actually born in Clonmel, County Tipperary (there's no firm records of where he was born) and secondly, the reason he picked up the ball in the first place was because he was showing his school chums the game of caid, the ancient Gaelic sport he'd witnessed his cousins playing back in Tipperary. It might never be conclusively proven but we'll take him as one of our own anyway.

RUGBY POSER
The King of Tonga, God bless him, died this week. Who captained Ireland in their one and only visit to Nuku'alofa back in June 2003?

(Answer below) YOUR 30 WORDS WORTH
Your chance to rant about anything in the rugby world that takes your fancy. Only condition . . . it must be under 30 words. All musings to ccronin@tribune. ie

MOUTHING OFF. . .
There are some players who have lived off reputation. 2003 is a long time ago. It's gone. It was obviously a great party, but the hangover has lasted a bit longer than it should have done England director of elite rugby, Rob Andrew (right), finally spots the problem with the national side. Time for the Alka-Seltzer I already enjoy it here. In England, there is too much of a burden on your shoulders because of the structure they have. Here it's more enjoyable and you can play a bit Leinster's Eoin Finegan settles into life in the 'enjoyable' Magners League