Warner returns for trench warfare

TO the relief of Gary Ella - and Leinster supporters everywhere - out-half Christian Warner has recovered from a hamstring injury and will start in Saturday’s Heineken Cup Pool 3 decider against Biarritz in the south of France.

Warner, a much maligned figure in the Leinster set-up last season, has performed superbly this term and re-claims the number 10 shirt from Matt Leek, who struggled against Cardiff at Lansdowne Road last Friday.

The only other change in the starting line-up from that game sees Aidan McCullen coming in for the injured Eric Miller. While McCullen is a more than able deputy for the Irish international, there’s little doubt that Miller’s ball-carrying ability will be missed by Leinster at Parc des Sports Aguilera tomorrow.

Leinster number eight Victor Costello has already described this encounter as “trench warfare, with no clock and no scoreboard.”

Just the type of atmosphere which Miller thrives in.

“We’re very disappointed that Eric Miller isn’t available,” said Ella. “He’s been carrying a shoulder injury for last couple of few weeks and it’s time he rested it. I thought he was outstanding in the first 30 minutes of last week’s game.

“As for Christian Warner, he probably adds a little bit more pace to the back-line and is a bit more experienced than Matt Leek. We’re looking forward to him coming back into the side.”

The rain has been pouring from the heavens in France all week long, and the forecast for match time is for more of the same.

Physically, there’s little doubt that this will be Leinster’s toughest game of the tournament, and mentally, it’s going to be little better.

“We always knew it was going to be a physical battle going down there, but this week I think it’s going to be a huge psychological game also,” said skipper Reggie Corrigan.

“Forward play in rugby is based around that, so if you can get the edge on the opposition in the scrum and line-out and plant a seed of doubt early on, you will see cracks appearing in their forwards and if the pack folds, the rest of the team will follow.

“But of course that works both ways and we’ll have to be unbelievably steely out there. It really is about the forwards this week and all of us have to stand up and be counted.”

The captain’s view is echoed by his backrow colleague Victor Costello, who yesterday received a presentation from the ERC to mark his 50th game in the European Cup this weekend.

On the opening outing of the competition back in December, Leinster surprisingly trounced the French side 32-6 at Lansdowne Road, but Costello is well aware that things won’t be as easy in the return leg.

“I think they will put up a much better performance, but only if we allow them. We had the edge on them up-front at Lansdowne Road and that’s definitely something we’re going to have to carry into this week.

“I think we learned a lot about ourselves in the last 10 minutes of the Cardiff game. We stuck at it, never gave up and we’ll have to have that same attitude on Saturday,” he said.