CJ growing into life at Leinster

THOUGH only a Dublin resident a matter of weeks, CJ van der Linde is well able to empathise with his Leinster colleagues’ pitiful record in Murrayfield, a venue they visit again this Saturday for their opening Heineken Cup match of the season.

The Irish province has lost eight of its last nine games in the Scottish capital. Their last two European campaigns have been stymied by ignominious defeats there and the South African knows just how that feels.

“It was back in 2002, six years ago,” he said yesterday. “I was a sub. It was my first cap for South Africa. It was nice to play there, although we lost 21-6. It is always an honour to play for your country.”