O’Driscoll: we must avoid draw from hell

QUALIFICATION may already be assured, but Brian O’Driscoll believes tomorrow’s round six Heineken Cup encounter away to Gloucester will be Leinster’s most crucial European appointment this season.

Though home advantage has been denied Michael Cheika’s side because of the impending construction work at Lansdowne Road and the RDS, victory in Kingsholm will still allow the Irish side avoid the draw from hell in the last eight.

“If we don’t get a home quarter-final we either play Biarritz, Munster, Stade Francais or Leicester at their home,” said the Leinster and Ireland skipper in Manchester yesterday for the adidas Techfit launch.