Sexton fit to start but skipper Cullen misses out on opener

TODAY’S Heineken Cup opener against Racing Metro at the RDS (1.30pm) has proved to be a bridge too far for injured Leinster skipper Leo Cullen, but Jonathan Sexton is back to make his first start of the season.

Sexton gingerly made his way through 30 minutes of an intense Magners League encounter against Munster last week but has made rapid progress in the last couple of days, and links up with Eoin Reddan at half back.

Not so lucky is Cullen, whose comeback from long-term injury has now been put back at least another week, and Jamie Heaslip has been named captain as Leinster seek to make the ideal start.

The recession appears to have restricted ticket sales to less than capacity but Leinster still hope to sell out the remaining 500 available seats; in any event they will have a massive percentage of the support – with the French club expected to have less than 500 over for the game.

The French visitors have named Jerome Fillol at out-half instead of the injured Juan Martin Hernandez, by-passing the claim of South African international Francois Steyn, who remains in the number 15 shirt.

Because this Parisian based side has risen from apparent ashes, there could be a misconception that there is no history. Not so; this club was established in 1882. !

Financially, the teams don’t compare with real estate guru Jacky Lorenzetti heading up the financial pot of over €9 million available to head coach Pierre Berbizier. The wily if temperamental coach has landed enough signatures to keep everyone happy.

It took a while to win promotion, and it takes considerable steel to stay in the French Top 14. Already, though, with his team at the summit of domestic competition, there has been a pay-back.

But European rugby is a different challenge; it’s an unforgiving place where money doesn’t always buy success. A team not too far away from Berbizier by the name of Stade Francais have found that out to their cost.