Munster Lions backing Leinster for Heineken Cup glory
It is clear, though, that the memories of their 25-6 semi-final defeat are still raw, Flannery steadfast in his belief that Munster had the quality to retain their crown as champions of Europe.
“I think Leinster will win it,” said Flannery. “If they play close to how they played against us then they’ll win.
“Look at their players, like Shane Jennings and Leo Cullen, who are very mentally strong players. They’ve got Johnny Sexton coming in, who has played very well also, so it will be very interesting to see how he goes.”
And Flannery is effusive in his support for the idea that Irish rugby will be the ultimate beneficiary of a Leinster victory in Edinburgh.
“It would be good for Irish rugby, and it would be great if Leinster did go on and get it now,” added the hooker. “I’ve seen how it kick-starts things; it raises the bench-mark and everyone plays up to it from there on in. I think that Leinster have been knocking on the door for long enough – hopefully they’ll get it now.”
And O’Gara is only slightly more reticent than his colleague for both club and country when it comes to nailing his colours to the Leinster mast.
“I’m sure they will win it,” said the Ireland fly-half.
“It’s obviously going to be tough – every European cup final is tough – but they have a fantastic opportunity, and personally I hope they do it.”
Yet there is more than a hint of regret that Munster failed to secure back-to-back Heineken Cups.
“I think the Munster team was good enough to win the Heineken cup this year,” explains Flannery, who will be battling with Matthew Rees and Lee Mears for a starting Lions spot.
“I knew in 2005 that we weren’t good enough, and in 2007 we were missing ingredients. We had the talent to win it this year, but you have to give great credit to Leinster – it’s cup rugby and they were the better team on the day.”
Leicester coach Richard Cockerill will unleash Alesana Tuilagi and Martin Castrogiovanni on Leinster in Saturday’s final.
Samoan winger Tuilagi ends a five-week suspension on Thursday for an off-the-ball tackle on Bath’s Nick Abendanon and will be available for selection.
Italian prop Castrogiovanni, meanwhile, has a “good chance” of recovering from a neck injury which kept him out of Saturday’s Guinness Premiership final win over London Irish at Twickenham.
If he does improve in time to make the flight to Edinburgh, Castrogiovanni could replace veteran Julian White at tight-head.
Tuilagi also has every chance of going straight into the starting line-up on the wing after Johne Murphy turned an ankle in the warm-up on Saturday and then went off injured in the 20th minute after a bang on the shoulder.
“Tuilagi is available for selection next week,” said Cockerill.
“And that is a massive boost for us. Castro had a stiff neck and was devastated at missing the final. But there is a good chance that he will be available next week.”
One player who has played his last game of the season, however, is Kiwi centre Aaron Mauger. The 28-year-old was an influential part of Leicester’s mid-season recovery but has been unable to make his way back from nerve problems in his leg and back.
And Cockerill confirmed that he was unlikely to be the match-day 22 for the Heineken Cup final.
“Aaron probably won’t play next week – his season is probably finished,” he said. “We need to get him right. He has tried to make a comeback and it has simply not worked.”
Meanwhile, the 2010 Heineken Cup final will be held at Paris’ Stade de France. The match will take place on May 22 and will be the third final to be staged in France.
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