Garbajosa loses out to in-form Médard

FRENCH international Xavier Garbajosa has been left out of Guy Novès’ 23-man squad to face Leinster, the Toulouse coach preferring the in-form Maxime Médard.

But there was good news for Ireland’s Aidan McCullen, who is set to face his former team-mates after a calf injury to Isotolo Maka. Virgil Lacombe, who recently signed his first professional contract with the European champions, will take his place on the bench as a substitute for captain Yannick Bru, the hooker.

Vincent Clerc and Fabien Pelous, who missed training mid-week because of foot and back injuries respectively, are set to be fit for Saturday.

Meanwhile, Perpignan president Marcel Dagrenat has claimed tomorrow’s game in Lansdowne Road is more than a game between two clubs. It is, he says, an international between Catalonia and Ireland.

“We have had two great appointments in two different tournaments recently,” said the supermarket millionaire who added that Munster and Perpignan shared similar identities and cultures.

“The first enabled us to realise a great win in Saint-Etienne against Bourgoin, which will prepare us for this away game against Munster.

“But this time we will be entering an even greater cauldron against a team who have no less than nine of the Irish selection which has just played a big tournament in the Six Nations.”

Perpignan, or L’USAP as they are known locally, would have played this tie at the Nou Camp had they earned home advantage but, with the game being transmitted live on French, Irish and British TV, they are using the trip to Dublin to promote the Catalan culture to a wider audience.

Searson’s Pub on St Stephen’s Green will become Club Catalan for the weekend.