Home comfort for Irish provinces

WHILE both Leinster and Ulster could afford to sit back and savour early quarter-final qualification in the Heineken Cup, their last eight opponents were not confirmed until the final whistle blew yesterday at Adams Park, where Wasps were entertaining champions Toulouse. What a sting in the tail that proved to be.

When Samoan international winger David Lemi touched down with just seconds left to secure a shock victory for Wasps, the ramifications shuddered across European rugby. Instead of Leinster hosting Felipe Contepomi and Toulon, they now face the much more difficult prospect of beating Leicester Tigers in a repeat of the 2009 final.

That may impact on Leinster’s decision to move the quarter-final from the RDS to the Aviva Stadium. Leicester would attract a far bigger travelling support than Toulon, and Tigers supporters would make their presence felt at rugby headquarters.