RUGBY/ European Cup Final: John O'Sullivan on the Biarritz flanker Imanol Harinordoquy who could cause Munster plenty of damage tomorrow

Passion is a quality synonymous with Munster rugby and their supporters, always at the epicentre of any pre-game analysis of the team's prospects. It traditionally dwarfs the Irish province's other values but is apposite in describing the Munster supporters that traipse across the length and breadth of Europe as the supporting cast.

For tomorrow's Heineken European Cup final the red hordes will descend on Cardiff for a self-styled date with destiny. They'll outnumber their Biarritz counterparts, possibly nine to one, but the French team are unlikely to be cowed, possessing a desire and commitment every bit as ferocious as their Irish opponents.

They're proud of their heritage and none epitomise this patriotic fervour more than flanker Imanol Harinordoquy. Born in Bayonne, he hails from St Jean Pied de Port in the Pyrenees but the proud French Basque would refer to the town as Donibane Garazi in recognition of the Basque culture in that region.

He has kept his Basque Christian name into adult life, not a common occurrence for French international rugby players from that area. The name bestowed on him is popular either side of the Spanish-French border in homage to the famous Basque singer-storyteller Bertsolaritza, known simply as Imanol.

He treads in the boot prints of teak-tough front row forwards and former French internationals such as Pierre Dospital, whose post-match party piece was to belt out Basque ballads, the granite-hewn Pascal Ondarts and powerful hooker Jean-Marie Gonzales.

His sporting pedigree as a youngster included pelota, judo, swimming and soccer and it was only when a knee injury limited his football development as a 14-year-old that he took up rugby, joining Pau. He represented France at under-19 and under-21 levels, all the while working in his family's cattle-trading business. Perhaps in deference to the twin interests he only signs a rolling one year rugby contract. He made his French Test debut just shy of his 22nd birthday in the Six Nations Championship against Wales, helping the team to a Grand Slam.

Playing largely at number eight he excelled in the 2003 World Cup, scoring tries against Ireland, Scotland Fiji and was the joint top try scorer in the 2004 Six Nations Championship when France won a second Grand Slam. A separated shoulder while playing for Biarritz, the club he joined in the 2004-2005 season, in the lead-up to the Six Nations saw him make just one appearance for France in that tournament.

That was the last of his 31 caps for France as first a loss of form and then the arrival of Yannick Nyanga and Julien Bonnaire, the resurgence recently of Olivier Magne and the claims of his team-mates Serge Betsen and Thomas Lievremont have denied him a return to the Test arena.

However, during his time with the French side he ruffled a few English feathers prior to a Six Nations match between the counties with the following observation: "The only memories I have of England and the English are unpleasant ones.

"As far as the English are concerned, I have decided to adopt the same attitude as them: I despise them as much as they despise everybody else. And as long as we beat England I wouldn't mind if we lost every other game in the Six Nations.

"They are so chauvinistic and arrogant, they look down on everybody and, in one particular under-21s game I found the attitude of the players and spectators intolerable."

Unleashed in the traditionally bland environment of pre-match observations, Harinordoquy's comments caused a furore.

Some might contest that Harinordoquy's eloquence is reserved for the pitch, he is a wonderfully athletic player with great ball skills and a predator's nous when it comes to scoring tries. He is the main ball winner in the Biarritz lineout, a constant thorn for opponents on their throw and is blessed with the handling skills and mobility to thrive in broken play.

Don't be surprised to see him patrolling the wings when the French team are attacking as he's probably scored more tries in the corner than most wings. No one doubts his prodigious talent, his commitment or for that matter his passion for both the sport and his team.