FOR A TEAM that has won three Heineken Cup in four recent seasons, Leinster’s players and coaches will not have enjoyed their Pro12 press briefing.
Despite a 48-28 victory over Wasps in the Amlin Challenge Cup, Greg Feek, Richardt Strauss and Fergus McFadden spent a lot of their time talking about this weekend’s opponents, Munster.
Rob Penney’s men were inspired in their Heineken Cup win over Harlequins and reached yet another semi-final. The league defeat against Glasgow Warriors is now a distant memory, with the outstanding Paul O’Connell lauding the arrival of the next generation of Munster leaders.
The performances of their two experienced centres, James Downey [32] and Casey Laulala [30], caught the eye and left at least four ‘Quins players nursing sore bones this week.
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While they may have just two tries between them in 46 outings, Downey and Laulala fronted up for the Munster cause and put the shoulder to the wheel as the Reds mounted a second-half comeback. One incident that stood out late in the first half was a Downey hit on Mike Brown, playing in the fullback role.
Collecting a Ronan O’Gara grubber kick and running the ball out from his 22, Brown was caught full-on by the Dubliner, and former Northampton Saint. Watch the hit here:
McFadden started the Wasps victory at outside centre but may be shifted onto the wing. Brian O’Driscoll is set to wear the blue 13 jersey at Thomond Park but chances are high that McFadden will encounter either, or both, of Munster’s midfield enforcers.
He told TheScore.ie, “These interpro matches are ones we really relish and it’s definitely good timing [to play Munster]. To get a win against Wasps, for a neutral supporter after the Munster win at the weekend, makes it a mouth-watering prospect of a game.
“We’re going to have to turn up down there; it’s not going to be easy.”
McFadden added, “I really enjoy the physical element of playing in the centre. There’s a different combination to playing there than on the wing. I don’t really know how Joe [Schmidt] will go with his selections… we’ve pretty much got a full deck of cards to play with this weekend.
I thought Munster dogged it out. Going over there, people didn’t really give them a chance. Genuinely, there’s a massive rivalry between Munster and Leinster but it is great to see an Irish side in the semi-final of the cup.
“For us, we had our game on Friday, which thankfully we won, but we are ready to get back into the bread and butter of the Pro12 and, obviously, this is a big one.”
*TheScore.ie will be liveblogging all the action at Thomond Park from 6pm on Saturday.
Leinster steel themselves for heavy-hitting Munster duo, Downey and Laulala
FOR A TEAM that has won three Heineken Cup in four recent seasons, Leinster’s players and coaches will not have enjoyed their Pro12 press briefing.
Despite a 48-28 victory over Wasps in the Amlin Challenge Cup, Greg Feek, Richardt Strauss and Fergus McFadden spent a lot of their time talking about this weekend’s opponents, Munster.
Rob Penney’s men were inspired in their Heineken Cup win over Harlequins and reached yet another semi-final. The league defeat against Glasgow Warriors is now a distant memory, with the outstanding Paul O’Connell lauding the arrival of the next generation of Munster leaders.
The performances of their two experienced centres, James Downey [32] and Casey Laulala [30], caught the eye and left at least four ‘Quins players nursing sore bones this week.
While they may have just two tries between them in 46 outings, Downey and Laulala fronted up for the Munster cause and put the shoulder to the wheel as the Reds mounted a second-half comeback. One incident that stood out late in the first half was a Downey hit on Mike Brown, playing in the fullback role.
Collecting a Ronan O’Gara grubber kick and running the ball out from his 22, Brown was caught full-on by the Dubliner, and former Northampton Saint. Watch the hit here:
YouTube credit: Damien Conway
McFadden started the Wasps victory at outside centre but may be shifted onto the wing. Brian O’Driscoll is set to wear the blue 13 jersey at Thomond Park but chances are high that McFadden will encounter either, or both, of Munster’s midfield enforcers.
He told TheScore.ie, “These interpro matches are ones we really relish and it’s definitely good timing [to play Munster]. To get a win against Wasps, for a neutral supporter after the Munster win at the weekend, makes it a mouth-watering prospect of a game.
“We’re going to have to turn up down there; it’s not going to be easy.”
McFadden added, “I really enjoy the physical element of playing in the centre. There’s a different combination to playing there than on the wing. I don’t really know how Joe [Schmidt] will go with his selections… we’ve pretty much got a full deck of cards to play with this weekend.
“For us, we had our game on Friday, which thankfully we won, but we are ready to get back into the bread and butter of the Pro12 and, obviously, this is a big one.”
*TheScore.ie will be liveblogging all the action at Thomond Park from 6pm on Saturday.
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Casey Laulala Guinness PRO12 Fergus McFadden interpro James Downey Leinster midfield battle mike brown Munster Pro12 Rugby