O’Driscoll slams French theory

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL has dismissed suggestions that French teams continue to suffer from travel sickness in the Heineken Cup as out of date.

It has been five years since a French team has claimed European club rugby’s greatest prize, a statistic explained by their poor form on the road and their prioritising of the domestic league.

O’Driscoll, however, believes the runners-up of the last three Top 14 finals are capable of triumphing at any ground as Leinster launch the final stage of their title defence.

“The suggestion that French sides are bad travellers is old news as far as we’re concerned,” said the Ireland captain.

“We know that Clermont performed so strongly in Thomond Park last year and that they will take confidence from that game, so coming to the RDS will hold no fear for them.

“They are a side who are capable of going anywhere, playing well and winning. I’m sure that they would like nothing better than to come over here and spoil the party.

“The Heineken Cup is a great competition and winning it last year has made it attainable for us.”

He added: “Clermont are a side who really impress me.

“They have a lot of French players in their squad who play in critical positions and who are obviously in excellent form coming off the back of such a successful Six Nations.

“In Morgan Parra, Julien Malzieu and Jamie Cudmore they have some real quality and having watched some of their recent footage it’s clear that they’re playing some impressive stuff.

“They are a team who like to play on the front foot and when they do that they play their best rugby, so that’s something that we will need to be wary of. If they’re feeling in the groove they can be very dangerous.”