RYAN SMITH AND MONTAUBAN READY FOR WORCESTER

8th January 2008

Montauban host star-studded Worcester Warriors at Stade de Sapiac on Friday night with Brampton RFC and Canadian international centre Ryan Smith confident they can make April's quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup. 

Worcester Warriors have an eight-point lead over Montauban at the top of Pool Two, but Smith is adamant the French club is still very much in the last eight mix. And with the five Pool winners and three best runners-up qualifying for the last eight, Montauban could finish with 21 points.

"It's hugely important for us to do well in the European Challenge Cup but obviously our position in the Top 14 is also key," said Smith. "We do have a good chance of qualifying but we really need to put in a really good performance against Worcester this weekend.

"When we lost away to Worcester there was a big difference in the performance levels - and I don't know why that happened. "We were disappointed with the way we played over in Worcester and we are capable of playing better rugby than that.

"I know there is the belief that French clubs worry about home wins far more than away performances, but I'd like to think that at Montauban we are not like that.

"Having said that, home advantage will play a key part in the game this weekend and our supporters will play a big role in getting us the crucial win on Friday. "And we are going into the game on the back of a great run over Christmas, confidence is high and the guys are really pumped up.

"We were delighted with our win over Stade Français but it was a pity that there was then a break as I think we perhaps lost a bit a bit of momentum as we should really have beaten Biarritz at Aguiléra last weekend.

"We played 40 minutes of great rugby but in order to do well in the Top 14 and in Europe you need to be able to do that for 80 minutes, week in and week out. "We are currently fifth in the Top 14 and of course our thoughts drift to next season and the possibilities that may open up for us.

"If we finish in the top six and qualify for the Heineken Cup next year it would be a great coup for the club."

"Winning the European Challenge Cup is a tough route for us to take to get into the Heineken but European rugby is a unique experience for all of us and we are enjoying the Challenge Cup and we will take any opportunity we get to move into the premier tournament.

"It's surprising for us to see where Worcester are in the Guinness Premiership as when we played them, they certainly didn't seem to have many weaknesses.

"They have several household names and the likes of Pat Sanderson - who I know from playing sevens - and All Blacks such as Sam Tuitupou and Rico Gear make for a pretty formidable side.

"I really enjoy playing against English sides but I don't manage to see much of the Premiership on TV so it's interesting to see what level these teams are playing at. It's also interesting for us to see what level we're playing at when we come up against these teams."