Biarritz targetting O'Connell

Biarritz are planning to win the battle of the skyscrapers in the Heineken Cup final in Cardiff on Saturday.

And they’re singling out Paul O’Connell for special attention in their attempts to make it third time unlucky for Munster.

That’s the view of star flanker Imanol Harinordoquy, the marauding 6ft-4in French international who is a valuable part of Biarritz’s line-out.

“The Heineken Cup will be won and lost at the line-out,” he told The Evening Echo on the eve of Biarritz’s departure to their Welsh base.

Biarritz parade a couple of imposing second-row forwards who are more than capable of spoiling Munster.

Jerome Thion, at 6ft-6in, and the 6ft-8in David Couzinet are plotting to deny O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan in what will be a fascinating aerial tussle at the Millennium Stadium.

“We are spending a lot of time on getting it right, including video sessions.”

Biarritz’s last competitive outing before the final against Montpellier at home last Friday was used as a dry-run.

“Our line-out was not perfect, but we did not try all of our options and combinations as we did not want to give anything away to Munster,” he added.

The availability of first choice hooker Benoit August is a massive boost for Biarritz.

He escaped a ban after a gouging incident in the semi-final win over Bath.

“We tried out a few things against Montpellier with Munster in mind and it was probably a good thing they didn’t all work.

“That will enable us to stay focused and sort out the details in training,” he said.

Munster were scheduled to announce a travelling squad after training in Cork later today.

It was expected to include cover for three positions, centre, prop and second-row.