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According to you who was the best European player of the season?
Imanol Harinordoquy (43%)
William Servat (21%)
Other (12%)
Ronan O'Gara(8%)
Brian O'Driscoll (8%)
Vincent Clerc (5%)

Damien Traille (3%)












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Auch Wary Of Italian Job
11 January 2005, 4:09 pm
By Pete Griffin
Leeds Tykes, Worcester, Bayonne and Auch will go into their European Shield quarter-final Second Leg matches with the points in the bag from last weekend’s First Leg contests.
But despite the high score difference after the home match against GRAN Rugby, Auch coach Henry Broncan is cautious about his side’s ability to win in Italy this weekend.

“We are obviously very happy with the result but the score does not fully reflect the tightness of the match or the strength of our opponents,” said Broncan.

“I think we played outstandingly well and were able to take advantage of and surprise a team tired by travel.”

And Broncan is clearly concerned by the prospect of the journey to the away fixture.

“Now it is us who will have the journey before the game and we face a team who, I am sure, will want to take revenge for the scoreline last weekend,” he said.

“As far as tactics are concerned there’s very little to say. We didn’t pick up any injuries at the weekend and are planning to put out the same team with the same objectives as last weekend, although clearly the odds are less in our favour for a decisive victory.”

The Auch coach is, as ever, enthused by the experience of European competition as much as by the thought of victory.

“As I have said many times, we love playing these games,” he said. “To share something like rugby between cultures is a great feeling and we never fail to be amazed by the hospitality and friendship shown through these matches.”
Did You Know?
Last season there were 485 tries scored in 67 Challenge Cup matches.
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