Exiles are setting their sights on Twickenham
 London
Irish will be bidding to make it 12 consecutive victories on the road
at Welford Road on Sunday.
Already having to do without their influential Director of Rugby Brian
Smith who is serving a three-match ban, the players are aiming to qualify
for their first Guinness Premiership Final at Twickenham on May 27.
Smith and his backroom team have been instrumental in transforming the
fortunes of London Irish this season.
A team that struggled to make touch-downs in a season-long battle against
relegation a year ago they are now deservedly chasing the top honour in
the game.
In the wake of Irish’s humbling of Wasps Brian Smith explained how
the new look London Irish side managed the victory.
He said: “We don’t distinguish between home and away games
which is perhaps why many of our opponents are surprised to our approach
to each game. Our aim is to play the ball wide and keep it alive and force
turnovers at every possible opportunity.”
Leicester Tigers’ cautious strategy against Bath in their recent
Heineken Cup semi-final proved disastrous for Pat Howard’s team
and hopefully London Irish will not be drawn into that type of negative
game.
Once again the relative strengths of both packs will be under the microscope
and London Irish should certainly have no aprehension in the line-out
where Bob Casey, Nick Kennedy, Kieran Roche and Olivier Magne have all
had tremendous seasons.
The Tigers will have to do without the suspended Louis Deacon but have
plenty of back-up including Shane Jennings who could be one of three Irish
players facing the Exiles.
Assuming London Irish can continue their line-out domination then there
is no reason why this cannot be the platform to launch another attacking
display.
However the top tactical decision of the Exiles selection against Wasps
was the return of Samoan centre Dominic Feau’nati to partner a reinvented
Mike Catt.
The London Irish captain has capped a tremendous season by being nominated
Players’ Player of the Season and many of those that had written
off the World Cup winner when he arrived at Sunbury two seasons ago have
been made to eat their words more this season. Catt last week signed another
one-yearcontract with Irish.
A trip to Welford Road is always a daunting prospect for any side and
the Tigers are also unbeaten in five games.
Since their shock Heineken Cup exit at the hands of Bath, Pat Howard’s
team have regrouped well and will be formidable opposition.
However with confidence and team spirit at an unprecedentedly high level
within the London Irish squad, the Exiles could be set for one of the
best finishes to a season in the club’s history. Time will tell
how effective the London Irish ‘No Fear’ philosphy will be. |
