Midi Olympique reports on Thursday that the majority of players at Racing-Métro (37 out of 40 perhaps) asked for a meeting with the club's president Jacky Lorenzetti to ask for the removal of coach Pierre Berbizier. Lorenzetti did not accede to the players' request.

This follows hot on the heels of the instant resignation of Sébastien Chabal, clearly because of differences with Berbizier. The Chabal case is seen as a symptom of the disease, a rift between Berbizier and his players.

When Chabal went - "It was him or me" - Berbizier believed that he was safe. But on Thursday the players clearly expressed their dissension.

The spirit in the club does not augur well for their match against Clermont Auvergne this weekend.