Irish hoodoo doesn’t bother us, says Biarritz boss

BIARRITZ president Marcel Martin says his team have no fears of facing Leinster in Dublin, despite his team having never won on these shores.

The French champions have a record of played three, lost three from Heineken Cup ties in Ireland, a record which would concern the most ardent Biarritz fan going into their quarter-final clash in Dublin on April 13.

But Martin insisted: “Playing in Ireland does not worry us especially. We are a professional team and we know it is never easy to win in Ireland but apart from losing at Donnybrook two years ago we have played well there.

“Our best performance was against Munster in the quarter-final that same year where we scored four tries each and when we went to Belfast to play Ulster before Christmas we barely lost. So we’ll take our chances and we have the incentive of a home draw in the semi-final should we win,” Martin said.

For most French clubs, their own domestic championship is the number one priority every season but Martin says that is not the case for the Basques from Biarritz.

“For clubs that have never won it, the French Championship takes precedence. The Heineken Cup is a new competition, it’s still growing up and it can wait as far as they are concerned. Their ambitions are localised.

“For us, as previous winners, the French championship is only one step along the road. Toulouse and Perpignan will feel the same. Our ambitions have broadened and we want to prove we are the best in Europe.”

To do that, Biarritz must score their first win on Irish soil by beating Leinster and then, thanks to this week’s semi-final draw, face either Llanelli or Perpignan on home turf in the last four before returning to Lansdowne Road for the final. And with Toulouse heading for a home semi against either Munster or Leicester should they overcome Northampton, a confident Martin has it all mapped out for French domination this season. “The semi-final draw was excellent for France. We now have the chance to see two semi-finals in France and then we’ll return to Dublin for the final.”