Strapped up: Brian O'Driscoll
Related links
Teams
Also see
Few would argue that the standout two teams of 2011 will run out for what will be a captivating Heineken Cup Final.
Saints are on the verge of becoming the first side ever to go unbeaten in the elite club competition after recording a perfect eight-from-eight record.
Quite a feat considering. Considering what?
Well it has been quite a turnaround at Franklin's Gardens. Only in 2008 were they competing in the Championship, and since they secured their passage back into the top flight, their rise has yet to plateau. Credit must go to Keith Barwell and Jim Mallinder for this. Saints ooze an ethos and facilities that simply had to return to Premiership rugby and now the lessons have been learned.
Yes, unlike their rivals this week they do not have the chance to claim a magnificent double trophy triumph - let's not get into that Manu Tuilagi debate. But they have shown enough in this 2010/11 campaign to suggest this group of players will stick together and build year upon year, with more silverware likely to materialise.
Leinster in contrast are in some respects coming to the end of a golden era as the likes of Brian O'Driscoll, Leo Cullen, Gordon D'Arcy and Shane Horgan age. They have, however, also enjoyed a similarly strong European season, losing just one of their games, which was nothing to be embarrassed about in the form of a 13-20 negative at Clermont.
So long they have lived in the shadow of neighbours Munster - especially in the Heineken Cup - but now they have arguably assumed the top dog tag in Ireland. Because of that fact, their Magners League showdown at Thomond Park next weekend whets the appetite.
There has been little surprise in team selections for this weekend as one might expect. Leinster are boosted by confirmation that O'Driscoll has recovered in time for the contest. The centre forms his usual partnership with D'Arcy in an unchanged team from the semis.
Leo Cullen leads the side and lines up alongside Scotland's Nathan Hines at second row. He is one of six Ireland internationals in a forward pack which includes the devastating Sean O'Brien, who has scored four tries to date in the Heineken Cup competition.
Northampton Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder, who already knew that England international Tom Wood wouldn't recover in time to feature, has named an unchanged selection.
"We certainly have plenty of respect for their achievements and for the players and coaches. But we are not going to Cardiff just to make up the numbers," he said regarding Leinster.
"For us, tomorrow's game is the last of a long season and represents the last opportunity for us to bring home some silverware.
"This is a massive motivation. Not a lot of players get the chance to play in a Heineken Cup final, and everyone in the matchday 23 is determined to get a positive result tomorrow."
Ones to watch:
For Leinster: Why change tack at this stage of the season? Sean O'Brien has been superb for Leinster and Ireland all year and simply must start in New Zealand. He adds real dynamism to the back-row and we look forward to Phil Dowson and company colliding with him. The OPTA stats tell the story though: O'Brien has made more carries (115) than any other player in the Heineken Cup this season as well as more metres than any other forward. The 24-year-old has also beaten 19 defenders, which is a competition high by anyone, back or forward. Defensively, only Joe Worsley (90) has made more tackles.
For Northampton: His performance in the Aviva Premiership semi-final against Leicester was one that reaffirmed he simply must start for England for the foreseeable future, which is why I have gone for Courtney Lawes. Expect the young second-row to throw himself around.
Head-to-head: The two form full-backs in Heineken Cup 2010/11 meet. Isa Nacewa and Ben Foden have been superb all year and I just have a sneaking feeling that whoever comes out on top between these two on Saturday will be in the victorious team.
Prediction: Heineken Cup Final experience will play its part. Leinster by 7!
The teams:
Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Leo Cullen (capt), 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Jason Harris-Wright, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Stan Wright, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Shane Jennings, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Fergus McFadden.
Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Paul Diggin, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Phil Dowson, 6 Calum Clark, 5 Christian Day, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Dylan Hartley (capt), 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Brett Sharman, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Tom Mercey, 19 Mark Sorenson, 20 Mark Easter, 21 Stuart Commins, 22 Shane Geraghty, 23 Joe Ansbro.
Date: Saturday, May 21
Kick-off: 17:00 (16:00 GMT)
Venue: Millennium Stadium
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant Referees: Jerome Garces (France), Pascal Gauzere (France)
Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
By Adam Kyriacou
Comments
blametheref says...
Wouldn't worry about the ref, Joe Schmidt knows Poit inside out from his time in France
Posted 13:25 21st May 2011
blametheref says...
Feel the fact Quins won yesterday will give Northampton a big psychological boost today...Very important Leinster play their own game and eliminate early errors
Posted 13:21 21st May 2011
pantreac says...
I am worried by the choice of ref. Unfortunately he is not very good at scum time and will not I fear penalise Hartley for popping his head out of the scrum. Does he do this as a tactic or is it because he can't take the pressure? I am also worried that he appears to penalise O'Driscoll a lot when O'Driscol is on his feet and competing for the ball at ruck time. If I was a Leinster Official I would have asked for a change of ref! If he refs fairly a most definate win for Leinster and lets face a win for rugby.
Posted 11:31 21st May 2011
ciaranbrk says...
Yeah just 1 problem Roman Poit the worst ref in the world bar Kaplan. Why give the most mediocre ref in Europe the biggest match in Europe if Leinster loose cause of him I will crack up.
Posted 21:22 20th May 2011
Carpelone says...
I see an edge for Northampton only in the tight 5. Leinster's back row is far superior as well as the whole backs department. Still not very much impressed by both Foden and Ashton (Manu forever). A rugby match is seldom decided by the tight 5, so it should be Leinster (although this could turn into a tight game).
Posted 18:01 20th May 2011
adamk says...
@irishzimbabwean Yes, I'm sure the selection was tricky for the coaching staff, especially for the forwards... But seeing what impact Heinke had on Toulouse as an impact sub speaks for itself. Look at the Biarritz game, everyone talks about the domination in the scrum by Saints, but in reality, a very shoddy Biarritz side held up in the scrum for the majority of the first 60 minutes... it was only when they began to crumble and had no subs to fill in the gaps that the damage looked so obvious.
I think Saints will dominate in the scrum for the first half, but with HVDM coming off the Bench we'll push them back.
Posted 14:28 20th May 2011
schneilob says...
Leinster will out class the saints and show what a dire state English rugby has become. All brawn and no brains!!!!!!
Posted 14:17 20th May 2011
blametheref says...
Always think D'arcy and BOD play better against tall centres which they will be, I just feel the Leinster back row with Jennings on the bench will be the telling difference especially in the final quarter...also the mis-match between Diggin and Horgan in the air will I feel see Horgan getting at least a try.....maybe a good bet for 1st try of the match
Posted 13:59 20th May 2011
leinster_goy says...
Only one winner here. Leinster 26-15 Northampton.
Allez les bleus!!!
Posted 13:14 20th May 2011
blametheref says...
5' 8" Diggin against Horgan....
Posted 13:01 20th May 2011
blametheref says...
15: Isa Nacewa
14: Shane Horgan
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan
1: Cian Healy
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Mike Ross
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Nathan Hines
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Sean O'Brien
8: Jamie Heaslip
REPLACEMENTS:
16: Jason Harris-Wright
17: Heinke van der Merwe
18: Stan Wright
19: Devin Toner
20: Shane Jennings
21: Isaac Boss
22: Ian Madigan
23: Fergus McFadden
Posted 12:49 20th May 2011
adamk says...
Very excited now. Due to fly over for this in a few hours. Big match ups all over the field, I'll defo have a sore neck come sunday! Isa v Foden, D'Arcy vs Downey, O'Brien vs Dawson, Cullen vs Lawes, and ofcourse the main title fight has to been Strauss vs Hartley. :) C'mon Straussy, show 'em how its done! :D
Allez les blues
Posted 12:39 20th May 2011
blametheref says...
If BOD makes it with his knee injury, I'll be surprised if he sees the full match out. Apparently, he did not do much training this week but according to Hartley that's all Leinster pre-match propoganda...but he is right to think that...Talking of conspiracy thories and bluff and on another note, are Northampton covering up something? Both Foden and Ashton will need exploratory knee surgery following the game...Now I know little about why a player needs exploratory surgey but surely if a player does he is not what you'd call a 100% fit, and Northampton are playing this down as the thought of playing the final without these 2 is unthinkable for the Saints. Also, rumour has it that Ashton was concussed after his 3 Manu punches and played the rest of that game in a daze and as a result, though he will play the final, has not fully recovered....But it is a final, and conjecture and hidden injuries will not stop any of these players being stretchered on to the field...As the politically correct Heaslip said "we'll play cripple"...Will be watching BOD, Ashton and Foden closely during this one...Black and Blue, Blue, Blue!
Posted 12:15 20th May 2011