Bourgoin Coach Pierre Raschi believes his side are ready to make up for their poor form in Europe in recent season by winning on the road for the first time since they beat Ulster in 2000.
“It’s true that we are the little club of the Heineken Cup, but this season we are looking to improve our performances,” said Raschi, veteran of 48 European battles with Bourgoin and a Challenge Cup winner 10 years ago.
“We had a poor Heineken Cup campaign season last season, although we were really proud of our performance against Munster in Geneva.
“But we have drawn a line under last year and we are coming into this season’s tournament with some new personnel and certainly a new level of ambition.”
Bourgoin, who could include former Wales and Scarlets lock Chris Wyatt in their 22, are unbeaten in the Top 14 this season after a 10-8 home win over Montauban and an 18-16 triumph at Auch last weekend.
France’s Rugby World Cup prop Olivier Milloud will be missing through injury, but it seems Raschi’s side are far more motivated this season than in the past.
Despite succeeding in qualifying for the Heineken Cup for the past five seasons, Bourgoin have been whitewashed in two of those campaigns and were beaten 92-13 at Lansdowne Road by Leinster in 2004.
Their woeful away form will no doubt give the Ospreys heart – they have lost their last 14 European games away from Stade Pierre Rajon – but they are capable of causing the odd upset; they hammered the Scarlets 54-38 at home in 2002 and beat Leinster 30-28 on French soil in 2005.
Their record against Welsh sides is pretty indifferent; they have played the Blues four times and Scarlets four times, winning once each at home against them.
They will be chasing their first Heineken Cup win in Wales this weekend.
