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Join Date: Nov 2009
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Huge matches in Round 6 Heineken Cup
Leinster v London Irish:
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The fact that bonus points can make all the difference in the Heineken Cup is an uncomfortable truth borne in brutally on London Irish in advance of their crucial clash with holders Leinster at Twickenham on Saturday.
Close to the end of last week's match against Scarlets they were trailing, but holding on to a bonus that would have kept them within four points of Leinster. Then Scarlets carved a last minute opening for centre Jonathan Davies, and the Exiles were left empty-handed from a match they once led 22-10.
If they'd kept the bonus they would have started on Saturday evening knowing that a win might see them through on their head-to-head record, having started the pool stage with a win in Dublin. Now they need a 5-0 victory, scoring four tries themselves while denying the champions any chance of a bonus.
It is not, concedes Irish lock Nick Kennedy, very likely. "I'd be very surprised if anyone got a four-try bonus," he told ESPNscrum. "While we rightly talk a lot about Leinster's attacking qualities they've also got a very, very strong defence. They're fast, they're extremely strong over the ball and they don't miss tackles."
He remains baffled by the conclusion at Parc y Scarlets, adding, "It wasn't like us. We normally finish games extremely strongly. We hadn't lost a game without getting a bonus for 18 months and it was a lousy time to lose that record. You've got to give Scarlets credit for an exceptional effort, but we did things we don't usually do. We had people making mistakes they don't make and missing tackles that they hardly ever miss."
It leaves them in a situation he sums up tidily - "We have to win, but there's no guarantee even then that we'd win the group or go through." Other results, particularly Munster v Northampton and Ospreys v Leicester, will have a bearing on Irish fortunes.
Both will be played before the Irish kick off at 6pm at Twickenham, but Kennedy is insistent that he won't be taking too much notice. "We'll be concentrating on what we have to do against Leinster. We won't prepare differently from any other game. We just have to try to win and then at about 8 o'clock on Saturday night see where that leaves us."
A decent performance against Leinster would also enhance Kennedy's international claims. To the mystification of many he remains outside the England senior squad and after playing all five Six Nations matches in 2009 he has not figured since. "Of course it is disappointing, but I'm doing everything I can to get back in and I'm training harder than ever."
Nor is he wanting for feedback from England's coaches. "I've had a good few chats with John Wells," he revealed. "We had a long talk last week and he told me that they are very pleased with the way that I have been playing and that I've made the improvements they wanted, but that there are a lot of good lock forwards around at the moment."
In the meantime he's in the Saxons squad, with matches against Ireland and Scotland in prospect. "It's an interesting environment. Everybody wants to get out of the Saxons and play for England. But they're a great bunch of lads and there's a real spirit. We all know that if the team plays well, everybody benefits and there's no question of anyone putting themselves ahead of the team. If they did Stuart Lancaster, who's a great coach, wouldn't tolerate it and they'd be out of the squad."
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Kennedy maintains euro hope | Rugby Union | Heineken Cup | Rugby News | Scrum.com
Munster v Northampton:
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Northampton's last-gasp bonus-point against Perpignan last weekend will give the Guinness Premiership side heart as they prepare to take on one of the biggest challenges in European rugby on Friday.
The Saints face two-time Heineken Cup champions Munster at their fortress, Thomond Park, with two points separating the sides at the top of Pool 1. Munster have been in ominous form of late and were unplayable against Benetton Treviso last weekend, while Jim Mallinder's men made hard work of their win over a shadow Perpignan outfit.
Munster boast a strong starting XV, their twin talismans, fly-half Ronan O'Gara and skipper Paul O'Connell, both starting. The ever improving Jean de Villiers starts in the No.12 jersey alongside Keith Earls, with Paul Warwick, Doug Howlett and Denis Hurley forming the back-three.
David Wallace starts at No.8 again in the absence of the injured Denis Leamy, with Niall Ronan starting at openside. Alan Quinlan completes the back-row while there is further experience throughout the pack as Donncha O'Callaghan starts in the second-row and John Hayes up front. Wian du Preez starts at loose-head, although there is a welcome return on the bench as Marcus Horan returns to the matchday squad for the first time since October.
Northampton flyers Ben Foden and Chris Ashton again showed their class from deep against Perpignan and will need to provide an attacking spark if Saints are to pick up a victory. Their bonus-point at Franklin's Gardens does provide a small safety net for them to qualify as a runner-up should results go their way elsewhere. With London Irish, the Ospreys, Leinster and Clermont poised to outstrip their total though, there is no room for complacency.
Shane Geraghty will hope for a better return from the kicking tee after being retained at fly-half, alongside the spiky Lee Dickson. Jon Clarke, the man who scored that vital bonus-point try, starts at outside-centre alongside James Downey.
Euan Murray returns at tight-head after sitting out last Sunday's victory due to his religious beliefs, and joins skipper Dylan Hartley and fan-favourite Soane Tonga'uiha in the front-row. Courtney Lawes is back at blindside after withdrawing from last weekend's game with a minor injury and the back-row is completed by Phil Dowson and Roger Wilson.
"We had a massive game against Munster in October but we will need to play much better," Mallinder said. "Many of their players are familiar faces from their exploits for Munster, Ireland and the Lions. But when the whistle blows it is just 15 men against 15, and if we play to our potential and stick to our game plan there is no reason why we can't win."
Munster: Paul Warwick; Doug Howlett, Keith Earls, Jean de Villiers, Denis Hurley; Ronan O'Gara, Tomas O'Leary; Wian du Preez, Denis Fogarty, John Hayes, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell (capt), Alan Quinlan, Niall Ronan, David Wallace
Replacements: Damien Varley, Marcus Horan, Tony Buckley, Donnacha Ryan, James Coughlan, Peter Stringer, Lifeimi Mafi, Ian Dowling
Northampton: Ben Foden; Chris Ashton, Jon Clarke, James Downey, Bruce Reihana; Shane Geraghty, Lee Dickson; Soane Tonga'uiha, Dylan Hartley (capt), Euan Murray, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Juandre Kruger, Courtney Lawes, Phil Dowson, Roger Wilson
Replacements: Brett Sharman, Alex Waller, Brian Mujati, Christian Day, Neil Best, Alan Dickens, Stephen Myler, Chris Mayor
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Saints out to storm Thomond | Rugby Union | Heineken Cup | Rugby Preview | Scrum.com |