Perpignan play mind games

PERPIGNAN, Leinster’s Heineken Cup semi-final opponents, have begun the psychological warfare before their showdown on Sunday week.

The Catalan side, who defeated Gloucester and Munster on route to topping Pool 2, before defeating Llanelli in a thrilling 26-29 quarter-final, are not overly pleased with Lansdowne Road as a venue for the last four clash. Nor are they slow to voice their displeasure.

"I would prefer it if the grounds were truly neutral Leinster get to play all their knock-out matches at Lansdowne Road and it's a little bit as if the dice are already thrown," scrum-half Ludovic Loustau said yesterday.