Edmonds: end of away jinx a huge boost

PERPIGNAN’S Australian star Manny Edmonds believes the French outsiders have cleared a major psychological hurdle in their quest for Heineken Cup glory this season.

Edmonds: end of away jinx a huge boost

Edmonds and company head for Dublin this week, where tournament favourites Leinster await them in the second semi-final on Sunday.

The bookmakers favour a comfortable Leinster victory, but Perpignan will not be pushovers, given that their Heineken Cup scalps this season include Gloucester, Munster and Llanelli. Perpignan's stunning quarter-final success against the Welsh side just a fortnight ago blew apart the traditional theory that French sides cannot win away from home.

"The biggest thing about our quarter-final was getting over the barrier of winning away," said fly-half Edmonds, who was the architect of that 26-19 Stradey Park triumph. "The victory has proven to us that we can do just that.

"Lansdowne Road holds no fears for us, but we understand what a bonus it is for Leinster to play this game at home.

"Everything now is a bonus for this club. The coach set us two targets at the start of the season: to reach the French Championship play-offs and the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.

"I don't think we have exceeded those expectations, because as a side, we were always confident in our own ability. But what the win over Llanelli has done is take off a bit of pressure."

Edmonds' 77-point Heineken Cup haul this term has been a major factor behind Perpignan reaching the last four.

While clubs with far greater reputations the likes of Leicester, Montferrand and Biarritz all fell short, Perpignan are now just one win away from a return Dublin trip on May 24, and a Heineken Cup final appointment with Toulouse or Munster.

Several big-name signings are thought to be lined up post-World Cup England wing Dan Luger, Australian centre Daniel Herbert and New Zealand number eight Scott Robertson are the rumoured major targets but Perpignan have enjoyed European success this season with few household names in their ranks.

Edmonds apart, 36-year-old former French Test hooker Marc dal Maso is their best-known player, but collective strength, rather than individual brilliance, has underpinned Perpignan's semi-final march.

And in 26-year-old Edmonds, they have a player who knows all about Leinster's Australian coaching supremo Matt Williams.

"Matt Williams coached me with the Waratahs (New South Wales) in the 1998 and 1999 seasons," Edmonds said.

"Unfortunately for him, we didn't perform in the second of those seasons, and he left the set-up.

"But he is a great strategist, and since he has been in Ireland, he has proved himself, taking Leinster to the Celtic League title, the Irish title and to the Heineken Cup semi-finals.

"As far as we are concerned, I think that our 23-12 defeat against Stade Francais last Friday will make us even more motivated for the weekend.

"Losing at home can never be a good thing but, hopefully, we'll crack some of the errors we made in time for the semi-final.

"It wasn't our best match on Friday, and that has to be down in part to the tough quarter-final at Llanelli.

"Having said that, we are a professional outfit and we should be able to recuperate in time we do it every other week.

"It was also one of those nights for my kicking but, hopefully, I've got rid of all the ghosts now and they won't reappear either in the Heineken Cup or the French Championship."

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