O’Driscoll fears favourites tag

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL fears a nasty sense of deja vu as Leinster bid to play down expectations ahead of their sell-out Heineken European Cup quarter-final on Saturday at Lansdowne Road.

“It is similar to the days before the Ireland-Wales game,” O’Driscoll remarked. “Beforehand, everyone was playing down Wales’ chances and talking us up. Same thing here, but we aren’t going to fall into any trap.

“It is going to be a very tough game against these guys. They are French champions, they are leading the French league playing extremely good rugby at the moment. And they have an array of French internationals.