Hot American LaValla takes long route to final

Scott LaValla can see the Aviva Stadium from his hotel. The RDS, where he will line out with Stade Francais tonight in the Amlin Challenge Cup final, is just around the corner.

His old Trinity College stomping ground is a 20-minute stroll in towards town.

No doubt about it, the American couldn’t be happier to be back in Dublin. He is happy to shoot the breeze and have some fun as Stan Wright, the prop forward who spent five years with Leinster and won two Heineken Cup medals with the province, walks into the room.