Luke Fitzgerald believes Europe’s big guns will fear facing Leinster in the Champions Cup knockout phase after Matt O’Connor’s side secured a home quarter-final clash with Bath.

It’s been a whirlwind rise up the rugby pecking order for Robin Copeland, through St Mary’s College, Plymouth Albion, Rotherham Titans and then Cardiff Blues.

DECLAN KIDNEY took positives from the Irish Wolfhounds’ loss to the English Saxons in Exeter at the weekend but saw little reason to change his belief he already has a side best equipped to beat Wales in the Six Nations opener.

IRISH WOLFHOUNDS’ coach Eric Elwood hopes his side will have learned valuable lessons from their humbling defeat to Scotland A when they square up to England Saxons at Ravenhill tonight (7.30pm).

Declan Kidney has no fresh injury concerns ahead of Ireland’s opening RBS 6 Nations Championship match with Italy next Saturday.