A round-up of today's other rugby news in brief
Captains cross again
SATURDAY’S CAPTAINS Geordan Murphy and Leo Cullen have played with and against each other on countless occasions, especially during Cullen’s two-year stint at Welford Road.
The first time they crossed paths in a highly pressurised environment, however, was the Leinster Schools’ Cup final at Lansdowne Road in 1996. Cullen, then a number eight, was part of the Blackrock side that defeated outhalf Murphy’s Newbridge 37-3.
After scoring a scintillating try to defeat Clongowes in the semi-final the future Irish fullback was well marshalled come St Patrick’s Day.
Still a fifth year student, Brian O’Driscoll kept the Blackrock bench warm that day.
Remarkably, Murphy missed out on that summer’s Irish schools tour of Australia but within months he was learning his trade in the Leicester Academy. They have fought long and hard to keep him since.
Kearney may well start on bench
THE MAIN talking point this week is how Leinster accommodate incumbent Irish fullback and Lions tourist Rob Kearney in the Leinster backline after Isa Nacewa and Shane Horgan saved their best form of the season for the semi-final against Munster and Magners League defeat of Llanelli a week later.
Luke Fitzgerald and Gordon D’Arcy look undroppable, while we’re not even going to mention the other guy.
Kearney, recently recovered from the mumps, has had an excellent 12 months but recent selections on the wing indicate Michael Cheika’s preference for Nacewa at 15. His pass for D’Arcy’s try against Munster lends credence to such a decision.
Leicester have the same, almost embarrassing, predicament with another Lion, Harry Ellis, unable to shift place-kicking scrumhalf Julien Dupuy.
Dimitri Yachvili’s former understudy at Biarritz was recognised by French coach Marc Lievremont yesterday when selected to tour Australia and New Zealand next month. Yachvili was the man to make way.
Blue province campaign heats up
THE BLUE Province campaign is under way this week with clubs, schools, pubs and individuals eager to show their support for the team. Over 50 clubs have signed up for the “Blue Leinster” packs and anyone who can’t make it to Edinburgh this weekend is encouraged to attend their nearest participating club and get behind the team.
Primary and secondary schools throughout Leinster are being encouraged to wear blue on Friday to show their support for the team.
As a result of unprecedented demand, flags and posters have been distributed to pubs around the province.
Anyone taking part in Blue Province, and decorating their home, school, local pub or rugby club should send in photos to leinsternews@leinsterrugby.ie to be featured on www.leinsterrugby.ie.
Tickets still available
WHAT WAS all the fuss about? It could be a case of the prodigal Lunster fans deciding to come back into the fold but at 3pm yesterday there were almost 1,000 tickets still on general sale for Saturday’s game. After just two rings the helpful girl in the Murrayfield ticket office answered and explained that up to eight tickets could be purchased for £25 (€28) and £40 (€45) each.
We imagine they have been snapped up by now.
Finalists play media game
YESTERDAY WAS media day in Donnybrook and Leicester with the strange sight of Sky Sports cameras filming a leathered-up Shane Byrne on the Triumph Rocket he intends to ride all the way to Edinburgh (via ferry) this weekend. Chris Whitaker – also interviewed before the Munster match – Bernard Jackman, captain Leo Cullen joined coach Michael Cheika in the Bective club house.
Leicester rolled out coach Richard Cockerill, legendary former player Dusty Hare and 10 players including club captain Martin Corry, who will again be confined to water-carrying duties.
Cockerill said: “Unfortunately his body has given up. His mind is more than willing – he would play twice a week for you if you wanted him to – but his body just won’t follow. It’s been a difficult decision for me to make.”
What the coaches think
“This week is just about trying to stay relaxed and focused – while also making sure we don’t get hijacked emotionally by the whole occasion.”
– Leinster coach Michael Cheika
“If we play like that in Edinburgh we won’t beat Leinster in the Heineken Cup final – they are a better side than the Irish with more world-class players.”
– Leicester coach Richard Cockerill
“I thought their game last weekend was classic Leicester. They know how to win, don’t they? If you saw the first 20 minutes after half-time they decided that they were going to hold on to the ball. They made a 4:1 (ratio) more tackle count on London Irish and once they saw that things weren’t going right for them in the first half they just showed what kind of a championship class side they are.”
– Cheika again.
