| Danaher aims to be part of Exiles
Heineken Cup
 BY LARRY COONEY
London Irish
Leicester Tigers
January 8 Madejski Stadium 3pm
London Irish flanker Declan Danaher predicts the team are on course to
bring Heineken Cup rugby to the Madejski Stadium next season.
Not since the heady days of their 2002-03 season when the club
experienced some of the greatest memories in its history by winning the
Powergen Cup, have London Irish been involved in Heineken Cup rugby.
However Danaher believes that the team’s new-found self-belief instilled
by director of rugby Brian Smith is one of the main reasons why London
Irish are currently riding high in the Guinness Premiership and on
course for possible Heineken Cup qualification next season.
Danaher said: “Heineken Cup rugby next season has got to be the club’s
top priority. It was great to be part of that side under Brendan Venter
that won the Powergen Cup and that also took part in the Heineken Cup in
the following season.
“There is nothing like a Heineken Cup occasion at a club with the
prospect of playing teams like Toulouse and other leading teams in
Europe. I remember what a great occasion it was for us to beat Toulouse
in January 2003 in what was our last Pool game that year.”
London Irish have two possibilities of Heineken Cup qualification next
season, namely by finishing in the top four of the Guinness Premiership
or by winning the European Challenge Cup. However before any mention of
the possibility of top European rugby coming to Reading next season
Danaher realises that London Irish must learn from past mistakes and
believes the real test will come in the next month when the Exiles must
continue to achieve equally impressive results as they did in their
victory over Saracens at Watford just after Christmas.
He said: “The pack really played well in that game and usually that
provides a platform for the midfield and three-quarters to exploit.
Hopefully we can maintain our current roll of results that will keep us
in the upper half of the Premiership table.”
Looking ahead to Sunday’s game with Leicester Tigers Danaher dismissed
some of the visitors recent form and expects the Exiles to be in for a
tough examination.
He said: “We last met the Tigers after a number of good results and it
didn’t take them long to bring us down to earth at Welford Road. It’s
never an easy place to get a result and neither will Sunday’s game be
any different. I must say however that the scoreline up there did not do
us justice and we certainly aim to put the record straight this Sunday.”
Verdict: Home win. |
