Corrigan: Lions can reel in Ulster
Mark McCall’s side are sitting pretty at the top of the table but Llanelli Scarlets and Leinster are breathing down their necks. A victory tomorrow for Michael Cheika’s side would catapult them over their Irish rivals.
Not that an away win would be a surprise, even if Felipe Contepomi will be conspicuous by his absence.
Leinster recorded a double over their northern neighbours last season, beating them by seven points at Donnybrook in October and by five in Ravenhill on St Stephen’s Day.
The mouth-watering potential of this latest clash can be gauged by Ireland’s win over the Pacific Islands last weekend.
Seven Leinster players started in Lansdowne Road but the real story was the Ulster contingent. Where once their representation in Irish squads was limited to David Humphreys, there was six on the field when ref Christophe Berdos blew his whistle for the final time last Sunday.
“Ulster have received greater international recognition recently, there are a core group of players there who have helped form a good strong unit,” said Corrigan. “We won’t have any fear going up there but we will certainly respect them.
“It’s an advantage travelling to Ravenhill as an Irish side because it’s not as intimidating as you’re so familiar with the players you’re playing against.
“You’re playing against your peers, one-time international team-mates and you’re always looking to put one over your opposite number. That adds a bit of spice to the occasion.” The imminent resumption of the Heineken Cup may be exercising most minds but the clash in Belfast is likely to be a picture perfect advert for the Magners League, as these all-Irish contests tend to be.
A competition record of 27,252 turned out in early October to see Leinster defeat Munster at Lansdowne Road and, though Ravenhill’s limit is more modest, a memorable atmosphere is assured at the old ground.
“There’s talk of three busloads of supporters travelling up for the game — and that doesn’t even include those going up by train and driving independently — so that will give us another boost.
“I remember a time that you’d go up to Ravenhill and you wouldn’t hear a peep out of anyone as the crowds wouldn’t be nearly the same what they are now. Saturday should be a sell-out and we all appreciate the sacrifice that our loyal supporters make.”
Though he turned 36 early last week and has been retired from international duty, Corrigan shows no signs of donning pipe and slippers with Leinster, especially with Cheika minus the services of English prop Will Green.
Samoan Fosi Pala’amo has been drafted in from club duty with Blackrock this past few months and former Ulster player Ronan McCormack also comes into the front-row reckoning.
Who starts tomorrow remains to be seen, but Corrigan expects them all to see more than enough game time over the next five weeks, with Leinster on duty in both the Magners League and European Cup.
“Over the next few weeks you’ll certainly see the squad system in use. We’re all conscious of the fact that there are injuries in the squad so we all need to take responsibility.”
Should he play at the weekend, Corrigan will become the joint second most capped Leinster player of all time, alongside his good friend Victor Costello (127 appearances).
Shane Byrne currently holds the record with 135 appearances which is the sort of figure Pala’amo, who has featured just twice so far, can only dream about but the 30-year old former Randwick clubman is eager to add to that collection.
“It was really good to get my start against the Dragons and Glasgow. I was just concentrating on not letting the team down because Will Green has been doing such a great job. I was just focusing on doing my job for the team.
“We finished well against Glasgow and we’ve been training hard since then with Michael. The guys who weren’t involved with the national set-ups have been jumping out of our skin to get involved this weekend.”
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