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Exiles fired up for cut at table-toppers
London Irish’s hunt for a play-off place continues this weekend
with a trip to table-topping Gloucester.
The Exiles travel to Kingsholm on the back of seven straight wins and
remain unbeaten in 2008.
With confidence high in the Irish camp it is an ideal time to face the
Guinness Premiership leaders. Gloucester’s form has been patchy
of late losing three of their last four games.
Dean Ryan’s side crashed 30-25 at Harlequins last Sunday and are
now looking over their shoulder as Leicester’s win over Leeds reduced
their lead at the top to just two points.
Irish on the other hand continue to pull wins out of the bag. They trailed
Saracens 13-12 at the break last Saturday but rallied to prevail 27-24.
“It would have been a travesty if we’d lost,” remarked
forwards coach Toby Booth. “We came in to a one-point ball game
and to be honest it was quite astounding.”
Director of rugby Brian Smith was delighted with yet another win —
if not the performance — and once again called on England coach
Brian Ashton to give scrum-half Paul Hodgson a chance at international
level.
“If England want to expand their game then they should choose Paul
at some stage,” Smith said.
“He has a massive engine and he never stops. England has some exciting
young talent and Paul is the man to get the white jerseys liberated.” |
