The decision was made ahead of the Captains Run which was held at the Avenir 15 rugby club about ten minutes coach drive from the team Hotel (Mercure) in Isle d’Abeau.

That hour long session was conducted in gathering fog, a condition Munster were already too familiar with following their ordeal in Shannon on Thursday when similar conditions forced their travel plans to be delayed.

Earlier in the afternoon the squad traveled to Stade Pierre Rajon for a walk-out on the pitch where the game will be played. Although there has been very heavy rain in the Lyon region the pitch itself is in remarkably good condition with a good covering of grass although heavily sanded.

Bourgoin coaching director Philippe Saint Andre was one interested observer as Ronan O’Gara went through his kicking practice and Fabien Galthie was also on hand in his guise as a TV commentator for Canal +.

The first of the Munster supporters arrived in Lyon Airport at six pm (local time) on Friday, a contingent that included Limerick Live 95’s Len Dineen and some friends and relations of the Munster players.

Munster Team to Face Bourgoin:

Jeremy Staunton John Kelly Mike Mullins Jason Holland Shaun Payne Ronan O'Gara Peter Stringer

Marcus Horan Frankie Sheahan John Hayes Paul O'Connell Donnacha O'Callaghan Jim Williams (Captain) David Wallace Anthony Foley

Replacements: Gordon Mc Ilwham, James Blaney, Stephen Keogh, David Pusey, Eoin Reddan, Rob Henderson, Mossie Lawlor.

Bourgoin Team

1 Wiliam Bonet - 2 Jean-Philippe Bonrepaux - 3 Pascal Peyron - 4 Julien Pierre - 5 Pascal Pape - 6 Alexandre Bias - 7 Sébastien Chabal - 8 Pierre Raschi - 9 Christophe Laussucq - 10 Benjamin Boyet - 11 Jeff Coux - 12 Glenn Davis - 13 Florian Fritz - 14 Anthony Forest - 15 Alexandre Peclier

Remplacements : 16 Julien Bouic - 17 Benoit Cabello - 18 Pierre Caillet - 19 Nicolas Portier - 20 Mickaël Forest - 21 Kevin Zhakatta - 22 Grant Estheruizen - 23 Matthew James

Bourgoin v Munster

Heineken Cup Round 1 Stade Pierre Rajon 6th December 2003, K.O. 18:00pm (Local Time).