Conor's Last Stand - Leicester Preview

By BrianC
March 9 2005

This Friday night we witness the end of an era for London Irish. It is Conor O'Shea's last match in charge. First as player, then coach and most recently as our Director of Rugby he has been an integral part of, and a fine servant to, our club for many years.

 Conor is a top man. We will miss him but wish him the very best in his new position with the RFU.

After the disappointment at Leeds last weekend we now have to pick ourselves up for Friday night to face arguably the greatest challenge of the domestic season, a meeting with Leicester at Welford Road. Having been mauled by Hamsters last Sunday one does wonder what is in store for us at the hands of the Tigers.

Last year Leicester had, by their own very high standards, a poor season. They only just managed to scrape a Heineken cup place. This season is an altogether different matter. They lead the Zurich Premiership, eight points ahead of second placed Wasps, and are through to the quarter final of the Heineken cup. We played them in September at the Madejski when we were well beaten going down  22 – 39.

A good number of the Leicester squad are away on international duty this weekend. That however will be scant consolation for us. Such is the strength in depth of the Leicester squad, even a depleted team is more than a match for the rest of the ZP.  This ‘weakened’ team will almost certainly include Martin Johnson and Neil Back.

We are not yet safe from the threat of relegation and on the basis of last weeks dismal performance could well find ourselves fully back in the mire.  Gary Gold has his work cut out for him motivating the boys this weeks clash. Any points we manage to get from this fixture will be regarded as a bonus.

Given our current form Leicester will be clear favourites with the bookies to win this. Most observers, this author included, would look at this fixture and think of it as a banker for the home side. Most observers, this author included, thought that about the same fixture two years ago.