Irish injury boost for Leinster clash

Sportsdesk • Published 20 Jan 2010 18:00 0 Comments

London Irish vs Leinster: Saturday, 6pm @ Twickenham

LONDON Irish coach Toby Booth will have his strongest side available for Saturday's must-win Heineken Cup clash with reigning champions Leinster.

With the exception of long-term absentees Alex Corbisiero, Adam Thompstone and Declan Danaher, the Exiles have a clean bill of health for the Pool Six decider.

This means that Samaon flyer Sailosi Tagicakibau and Topsy Ojo could well return on the wing after injury in a game Irish must win to keep their cup dreams alive.

George Stowers is in contention in the back row after an ankle injury and will battle with Kieron Roche and Richard Thorpe for a starting place alongside Steffon Armitage and the excellent Chris Hala'Ufia.

In the front row the experienced Clarke Dermody and Faan Rautenbach are expected to keep their places at one and three, but Paulica Ion, Dan Murphy and James Tideswell are all pushing hard for a starting spot.

Elsewhere in the pack David Paice should keep his place at hooker, while skipper Bob Casey and Nick Kennedy will start in the second row.

Booth has big decisions to make in the back division where he must decide whether to plump for Ryan Lamb or Chris Malone at fly-half.

Seilala Mapusua, Elvis Seveali'i and Delon Armitage should all keep their places, while Booth must also decide whether to gamble on the fitness of Tagicakibau and Ojo out wide.

Leinster have named an unchanged squad after last weekend's bonus-point win over Brive.

This means the Exiles will be up against Ireland stars Brian O'Driscoll, Rob Kearney, Jamie Heaslip and Gordon D'Arcy, as well as international big-hitters CJ van der Linde and Isa Nacewa.

Scrum half Paul Hodgson knows the Exiles are up against it, but has backed his side to deliver.

He said: "It's a massive challenge for us. Leinster are flying at the moment and they are a formidable side.

"It will be one of the toughest games this team has faced, a truly monumental task.

"We will just be looking to put in a performance that will give us a chance to win and then what will be will be after that.

"We'll embrace the challenge and we're looking forward to it."

* LAST weekend the Exiles travelled to Llanelli to take on a Scarlets side who had beaten them on each of the three previous occasions the clubs had met.

At one stage Irish looked set to win at a canter, but then the Scarlets hoodoo set in and the Welsh side romped to their fourth straight win over the Exiles.

This weekend the boot is on the other foot as Irish have won all three previous meetings with Leinster.

Irish vs Leinster head-to-head

October 2009

Leinster 9 Irish 12 (Heineken Cup)

August 2009

Leinster 8 Irish 24 (Friendly)

August 2006

Leinster 10 Irish 25 (Friendly)

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