London Irish v Perpignan:A LEGACY of animosity offers an interesting backdrop to this clash between two teams that met at the pool stages of the Heineken European Cup. Perpignan loosehead prop Perry Freshwater's swinging elbow that shattered London Irish flanker Kieran Roche's cheekbone commandeered the headlines in what was a bad-tempered clash when these sides met in France.
Perpignan are an old-school French side and their physicality occasionally steps over the line of what is acceptable. In their recent victory away to Stade Francais, the first two scrums in the match descended into all-out brawls.
London Irish coach Brian Smith is adamant his side will not back down. "We are ready to match muscle with muscle. If things get a bit tasty people will protect themselves. That is natural. We don't take it personally. We don't think we are the only team they try and rough up. It is just the way they are. They try to manhandle teams and we are expecting the same thing. We have 22 blokes who are very courageous, know how to look after themselves and stick together. That has always been the London Irish way.
"We are not a side that looks to incite those sorts of things but we won't walk away from it. We are a team that wants to play rugby this weekend. We are confident in what we can achieve, it is just down to whether we are allowed to achieve it or not."
The combustible nature of the fixture means ERC have sensibly handed the game to Irish referee Alain Rolland. London Irish start Peter Richards and Shane Geraghty on the bench and have gone for a physically strong team.
Perpignan boast a massive pack, with Henry Tuilagi a tremendous ball-carrier at number eight. They have won five and drawn one of their last six matches in their domestic championship and couldn't be in better form.
Irish had lost three on the bounce before beating Bristol. In their two clashes to date this season victory has gone to the home side and provided Irish front up they can continue that trend.
LONDON IRISH: P Hewat; T Ojo, G Tiesi, S Mapusua, S Tagicakibau; M Catt, P Hodgson; C Dermody, D Paice, F Rautenbach; N Kennedy, B Casey (capt); D Danaher, S Armitage, P Murphy. Replacements: T Lea'aetoa, D Coetzee, J Hudson, R Thorpe, D Armitage, P Richards, S Geraghty.
PERPIGNAN: P Montgomery; C Manas, D Marty, JP Grandclaude, A Plante; N Laharrague, C Cusiter; S Chobet, M Tincu, N Mas; R Alvarez Kairelis (capt), N Hines; V Vaki, O Tonita, H Tuilagi. Replacements: G Guirado, P Freshwater, S Bozzi, C Porcu, N Durand, G Hume, D Chouly.
Referee: A Rolland (Ireland).
