WE ARE A few days away from a mouthwatering final weekend of Champions Cup action with a number of pools still to be decided. Pool four is probably the most open with Toulouse, Bath and Glasgow all with a chance of winning it.

After a torrid start to the league season, many fans were delighted when Toulouse won their first four pool games since the brand of rugby played by Guy Noves’ men is often a feast for the neutrals.

But speaking to L’Equipe this week, the King of European rugby’s aristocrats looks like he might be content to end his side’s Champions Cup interests after this weekend’s game away to Montpellier. A win would likely see Toulouse top the pool.

However, they are currently in seventh in the Top 14, one place outside of the Champions Cup qualifications places and they travel to Castres next weekend. Noves speculated that he might consider resting his players – much like Castres and Montpellier have in Europe – to concentrate on the league.

Noves didn’t say he would definitely do it but for someone so well-versed in the tradition of the European Cup – hell, he helped create half of it – to contemplate tournament suicide just shows how much the priorities of the French teams have shifted.

Hopefully Noves sees sense and we enjoy some of this classic rugby on Sunday.

If Matt O’Connor announces that he is resting his starters to focus on the Pro12 then we should start picketing the BT Sport offices.

H/T to Russ Petty.

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