For Martin Castrogiovanni and his Leicester Tigers, Sunday's Heineken Cup trip to face Clermont in their Auvergne fortress is about much more than the chance to take a large step towards the quarter-finals. The Italian prop makes no effort to deny that this game is about redemption.
Almost exactly two years ago, he was a member of the pack who were stampeded as the snow swirled. The final scoreline of 40-30 was bad enough, representing Leicester's worst defensive performance in the competition, but the 10-point margin of defeat flattered them after they had trailed 35-9 at one stage.
"No, I don't think we can forget what happened two years ago," the 30-year-old says, with meaning. "It is a tough place to go and play. Not so much the weather, that is not so different from Leicester. But the crowd, the atmosphere. They have a massive home record out there. So it is not easy to go there and win."
Clermont have not lost in 34 fixtures at their Stade Marcel-Michelin cauldron stretching back to November 2009, and have won their last nine home Heineken Cup matches. Leicester's recent history in France is not encouraging, as they have lost in each of the last four Decembers – at Perpignan last year and in 2008, and in Toulouse in 2007, in addition the Auvergne mauling — and have to go back to 2006 for their last win across the Channel, 28-13 at Bourgoin.
But Castrogiovanni believes the current crop of Tigers are much better equipped to handle the heat in Clermont – and he points to last weekend's stormy Premiership win against Northampton as evidence.
"We are coming from consecutive good wins and we are in a good place," he says. "Northampton is not so different to Clermont. They are a good team, it is a derby, and the job was done.
"I don't understand why there has been so many problems with what happened on the field. It will happen in a big game, people throw a punch and get angry, and you will go to defend your friend. That is no problem, it is rugby. You apologise after the game, that is enough – no one is killed. Why make the fuss?
"The good thing for us this time going to Clermont is some of our players who were young two years ago now have more experience and understanding. I think of Ben Youngs, or Tom Croft, or Thomas Waldrom. It will be a tough game, a close game, but we can do it."
Castrogiovanni, who will return to the starting team after coming off the bench against Northampton, has had a couple of other issues on his plate in the past few weeks. The Argentina-born tight-head prop's status as arguably Italian rugby's most successful export has been confirmed as he has joined Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Graham Henry and others on therugbysite.com, in his case with scrummaging advice. "That is the only thing I can do, push," he says. "The first time I watched, I was a bit worried. But in the end it has been quite good. It was difficult getting the language right but I would love to do it again some time"
He has also suffered for endorsing the claims of his former Italy coach Nick Mallett to become England's next permanent head coach. "All the lads on the field have been taking the piss already," he says. "But I really care about the coach who can be a friend. For me as a person he was really helpful, not just for the rugby. I think he will be good for England."
