Leinster seeking French revolution

Establishing a winning position and being competitive against French champions Stade Francais in Donnybrook was one thing - but containing them in their own Parisian backyard is quite another.

Away from home, French sides tend to do just enough to win; in front of their own fans, blessed as they are with a superiority complex, they are expected to win with a little panache.

Despite their 100 per cent record in eight games this season, Stade Francais are reckoned not to have been firing on all cylinders. Ominously though, five of their first six games were away, whereas in their last two games at Stade Jean Bouin the French champions began seriously to motor, beating Nimes 69-10 and Llanelli 49-3.

Now coach Bernard Laporte has availed of their serious strength in depth to make an almost ritual seven changes. Three backs come in for their competition debuts: full back Arthur Gomes, international winger Christophe Dominici and scrum-half Christophe Laussuco, while full back Sebastien Viars and English flanker Richard Pool-Jones are on the bench.

Nonetheless, their starting lineup still contains a mildly scary 10 internationals. Interestingly, six of their seven tries in last week's rout of Llanelli were scored by forwards and with Diego Dominguez unleashing a back-line that has Dominici and Thomas Lombard (who has scored in every game) on the wings, Stade Francais could cut loose if Leinster don't stay in touch for the first hour.

In six previous attempts, it almost goes without saying that no Irish province has ever won on French soil in the European Cup. Indeed, usually it has been a case of how many points the home side won by. Sure enough, it is a measure of the magnitude of the task Leinster face this afternoon that even Irish bookies are giving them a handicap of 25 points.

The surprise selections of Ciaran Clarke and Reggie Corrigan in quasi trial runs before the more "targeted" games against Munster, Begles and Llanelli hints that Leinster know their goose is cooked.

But if that was truly the case the ultra-competitive Mike Ruddock would have gone further and maybe rested the likes of Trevor Brennan and Pat Holden. They are "in great shape" according to Leinster manager Jim Glennon who has no fears about Clarke and Corrigan being pitched in at the deep end.

"Reggie is a seasoned international now and Clarkey is a senior pro in the squad. Reggie played in Stade de France last year - this will mean nothing to him - and Clarkey has been through the mill so many times it doesn't phase him at all."

Who knows, maybe Leinster can capture the spirit of the Stade de France last season and emulate Ireland's irreverent performance. Last week's gutsy win over Begles demonstrated a sense of `bottle' not always associated with the province and Glennon has taken comparisons with a Munster-type performance as the compliment it was meant. Nonetheless he accepts it is "a huge task" against what he calls "the best side in the competition".