FOR THE first time in the history of rugby’s European Cup, or, as it’s more commonly known, the Heineken Cup, English rugby’s headquarters of Twickenham will host an all-Irish final, between Leinster and Ulster. Ensuring as it does a fifth Irish win in seven years, this is one Euro zone where Ireland are pocketing most of the booty.
Although tickets have been on sale in tranches for a year – and there is no way of knowing for sure how many will turn up, and from where, until the 5pm kick-off – organisers were yesterday still hopeful of a capacity 82,000 crowd, which would be a record for a final.
There was little evidence around London’s vast metropolis yesterday of the tens of thousands liable to make the invasion, but an estimated 40,000-plus are expected to travel across the Irish sea, by train, plane, automobile, boat and bus – in equal numbers from the two provinces, though from all corners of Ireland. To avoid exploitative air prices, there has been evidence of Ulster supporters travelling out of Cork, and of supporters from both provinces landing in all sorts of unlikely destinations before hiring cars. And then there are the ex-pats, of which, of course, there are so many.
At stake is not only bragging rights between neighbours but, for Leinster, a second successive European crown and an unprecedented third in four years. That would bring fairly definitive proof that not only are they the best team in Europe, but probably the best Heineken Cup team of all time.
For Ulster, there is the carrot of a first final and first cup since their memorable win at Lansdowne Road in 1999.
Leinster trailed Northampton 22-6 in the final at half-time last year, before turning the game on its head with an inspired performance from Jonathan Sexton to win 33-22. At his pre-match media conference in Twickenham yesterday, the Leinster coach Joe Schmidt reckoned today’s final would be won by “the team that keeps their patience and keeps their cool . . . The occasion can sometimes dominate the performance.
“We need to stay focused and not get carried way with the occasion. That’s a danger for any player. I was pretty depressed at half-time in Cardiff, and I don’t want to be in that position again.”
Central to it all, as ever, will be some bloke called Brian O’Driscoll, who underwent keyhole surgery on his knee to chip away a little cartilage nine days ago. Seemingly impervious to pain or the norms of medical science, Ireland’s greatest ever rugby player sees his stature grow with each passing year. He truly is a freak.
In contrast to the Leinster coaching staff and the player himself, the media continue to fret over him like mother hens. “Our presumption is that he will play tomorrow,” said Schmidt, before adding ironically “I think that’s his presumption too.” Facing into his last game as Ulster coach before being moved aside to the Ulster academy, Brian McLaughlin more or less confirmed that for his last team talk he may as well just open the dressing room door and say “Go”.
“The boys are ready, we’ve had a great couple of weeks and we feel we have a superb opportunity waiting for us – and it’s just important to get on the pitch and show the rest of Europe exactly what we are capable of doing.”
