ECC Final Preview

By GTD
May 17 2006

At last it’s here – My first Cup Final since I started supporting Irish. Please allow me to be selfish for a second and enjoy what this means to me.

In my first few games supporting I witnessed a ‘winner takes all’ game versus Bristol which saw them relegated. That was 02/03. In 2003/2004 Rotherham saved everybody else’s blushes and we finished 8th shrouded in mediocrity. ‘Super Saturday’ at the end of last season was anything but and with 3 minutes to go it could’ve been us suffering what Harlequins have had to endure.

Then this season arrived – a new coaching team, new faces in the playing squad, some familiar and some less so and slowly, and more latterly very quickly things have started to happen.

We finished 3rd in the premiership. OK so we were outclassed by a very controlling performance by Leicester but we finished 3rd all the same.

Whilst ‘finishing 3rd’ was happening the team have been plugging away in the European Challenge Cup scoring 314 points along the way in 8 games scoring on average over 39 points a game. Now all that stands between them and their first piece of silverware since that day in 2002, and indeed only their second piece of silverware ever is Gloucester.

They have had an equally impressive run in this competition managing to notch up over 100 points in their 106-3 demolition of Bucuresti. Both teams have reached the semi-finals before, Gloucester once back in 2001/2002 and Irish twice in the same season and 1999/2000. So this is new territory for both sides and both will certainly be hungry to gain some tangible rewards for a hard season.

A quick look at recent form shows Gloucester at WLWWWL whilst Irish are slightly ahead with WWWWWL. Both have lost their last game, Gloucester at home to Wasps to deny them a playoff semi final and Irish more recently taught a lesson by Leicester in that same playoff event. Irish have completed the West Country Grand Slam beating all comers home and away.

Injuries could play a big influence on this match with Irish’s list of casualties causing concern. Gloucester have lost their fullback Olly Morgan who suffered a face injury during their loss to Wasps.

At this point I have absolutely no idea how to finish this preview – very unprofessional I know. Suffice it to say the following is true :
- I am totally delighted the performances of Irish this season. They have done us all proud and deserve high levels of support and praise.
- I am genuinely nervous about this Sunday’s game. To throw a cliché in “it’s a cup final, anything can happen”
- We’ve achieved what we set out to achieve already this season – we’re in the Heineken Cup next season so whilst this would be a bonus, it would be a truly magnificent bonus to have.

Do I think we’re going to win? I have no idea but I feel we should be favourites going into the game.

Let’s paint Twickenham green on Sunday and make sure they know we’re there !!

Come on boys – one more big push !!!