Toulon's group shot just got even more amazing to behold. There now stands Paul O'Connell between Samu Manoa and Juan Smith. Lobbe, Gorgodze and Vermeulen are further down the line. There's a plethora of Wallabies and an All Black with English and French mages smirking up the back. Ma'a Nonu, Bryan Habana and Steffon Armitage are seated to the left of Mourad Boudjellal and Bernard Laporte. Matt Giteau can be found two chairs over from Diego Domínquez.
This French club has truly become stranger than fiction.
It's the black circular collar around O'Connell's familiar blood-red garb that will make Munster stomachs churn ahead of Sunday's journey into the jaws of Leicester.
“I like it, it’s very strange for me,” O’Connell said one way then the other at his official unveiling in the shade of Cote d’Azur sunshine.
‘Queen of Limerick’
“I’ve only ever played for Munster, I’ve only ever lived in Limerick. It’s a big change for me, I’m looking forward to it, but I’m also nervous about it.”
Then he declared: “I’m an icon, I’m the Queen of Limerick!”
Oh wait, no, sorry, that was the Treaty City’s beloved daughter Dolores O’Riordan.
"It was a big decision for me," O'Connell did continue. "I wasn't quite sure what to do after the World Cup. I made the decision during the Six Nations, around February, then I wasn't quite sure what to do.
"But I'm delighted I did it now. I'm delighted I've taken on the challenge because there would have been easier options for me. Even already I see different ways of doing things than what I'm used to. It's up to me to adapt to that and learn the Toulon way of doing things."
Unfortunately, the sight of him staring down Leinster this Saturday night at the Aviva stadium is a game too soon for a man whose hamstring snapped off the bone on October 11th. But the challenge he speaks of could commence as early as January's resumption of Champions Cup action against Wasps or more likely Bath.
“There’s no doubt when the injury happened I thought to myself, would I get back or would I recover? Luckily for me, the surgery was a success . . . I’m fairly confident now that it is going to come right.”
Strangely, O’Connell compares the values of Munster to what he initially finds in Toulon.
“Obviously an incredible team and I think, most of all, an incredible spirit. I think that’s probably the thing I identify with most.
“I’ve played against Toulon twice and I’ve lost both times. There’s world-class players here, world-class French players and world-class international players, but when they play for Toulon they seem to give it everything.
“It’s the same as I would have done in Munster and the same as everyone would have done in Munster. I suppose it’s easier in Munster because you’ve grown up in the area and it’s where you come from. I think that’s the most admirable thing here, that players move down and they just seem to buy into it really well and play with a lot of heart and spirit.”
Lowest ebb
With Munster support at the lowest ebb since professionalism was truly born, O’Connell, perhaps unaware of the irony his comments induce, parallels a once raucous Thomond Park with Stade Felix Mayol.
“It is right up there with anything I have experienced on the biggest days in Thomond Park. When we played here in 2011, at the Mayol, we were very badly beaten but the crowd were amazing. The walk into the crowd was very intimidating and I’d say very motivating for the home players.
“I think they are similar to the Munster fans in that they love the team, they really get behind the team, it is a big part of the identity of the city.”
And what of Leinster, what can this still-lame Munster legend do to assist Saturday’s cause in Dublin?
“It will be the biggest game of Leinster’s season, even though they only have a slim chance of qualifying now . . . but I haven’t got a lot of advice to offer at the moment that Bernard Laporte and the guys don’t know already.”
