Gaffney’s double whammy

MUNSTER coach Alan Gaffney has every reason to want to put the record straight against Heineken Cup champions Leicester.

Gaffney returns to Welford Road on Sunday, a ground where, as assistant coach to Leinster last year, he was on the receiving end of a beating.

"I guess you could say this draw meant I've been struck with a double whammy. Among my Heineken Cup memories though probably not a happy one is losing with Leinster in last season's quarter-finals at this particular ground, and I know from experience that to beat them there you have to be at the top of your form.

"On that basis our preparations have been quite sound. We have had a lot of players back from injuries and we will go in with a fully armed side," said Gaffney.

Double champions Leicester are two matches away from a third successive final and the clash with Munster is a repeat of last season's thrilling Millennium Stadium final.

For his part, Leicester's director of rugby Dean Richards believes the sold-out showdown will live up to its billing. "This is probably the pick of the quarter-final draw and we are very much looking forward to what is going to be a very interesting game especially considering the final last year," he said.

Elsewhere in the competition, Leinster's injured captain Reggie Corrigan rates his chances of leading the Lions in their game against Biarritz as a lot less than 50-50.

"But the team is the important thing and training has been very sharp.

"Shane Horgan is showing up well and we are delighted with the way things have gone generally over the last couple of days.

"Our international players have been through the mill in the Six Nations, but what I have noticed about them in the last few days is the huge improvement in being out of the hotel syndrome they were in with the national side.

"Now they are back home, sleeping in their own beds, eating home food, and they are looking pretty happy with that situation."

French champions Biarritz are keen to play the underdog card but Corrigan is adamant that the French club represent a massive challenge for Leinster.

"We have not been together for quite some time while they have been playing in the French Championship.

"Biarritz are a strong and experienced side. Their pack is vastly experienced and is rather old fashioned in that they try to wear opponents down up front."

Corrigan hopes that a 47,000 strong crowd, virtually all of them supporting Leinster, will be decisive.

"The response to this game has to be a factor hopefully it will boost us and perhaps intimidate them to a certain extent. That said, they are not short of experience at the highest level, many of them have seen it all before and they have nothing to lose.

"For our part, we will have that support but we still have to perform on the day. That support will do nothing if we don't play to our full potential. We have to give those loyal supporters something to cheer about early on something to get their teeth into and raise the passions."

Meanwhile, the popularity of the Heineken Cup has reached unprecedented heights worldwide and the Irish provinces have been given huge credit for their contribution to the continuing success story.

Ulster, the 1999 winners, Munster, finalists in 2000 and 2002 and Leinster, currently among the strong favourites, have been credited in the southern hemisphere as being the teams mainly responsible for the upsurge of interest Down Under.

Millions of rugby supporters will view the quarter-final matches this coming weekend at Stradey Park, Stadium de Toulouse, Lansdowne Road and Welford Road.

The competition will attract viewers from all over the world, through Ireland and Britain, to Europe and as far away as New Zealand, Australia and Asia. "In addition to the extent of television coverage in Europe, we are delighted to see the growth of the tournament reflected in the growing interest in the event on a global basis," said Derek McGrath, the ERC chief executive.

Meanwhile, it has come too late for Munster, denied a legitimate try in a semi-final two years ago, but for the first time all the Heineken Cup quarter-finals will have television match officials on duty with a video referee to assist the referee when requested.