Compiled by JOHNNY WATTERSON
Warm weather: Ulster planning to get everything right for Leinster game
While Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin may have felt frustrated in losing 36-8 to Munster, he could be well placed for his final match in charge of the province. Ulster travel to Portugal this week for a warm weather training camp in preparation for their meeting with Leinster in the May 19th Heineken Cup final.
“We will get rested before we go over for the camp in Portugal on Monday,” said McLaughlin.
“We will go there for a few days to make sure we get everything on the money so we are ready for Twickenham. Leinster are an exceptional side and you don’t get many chances against them, so you have to be clinical when you do get opportunities.”
Leinster, meanwhile, will have a busy week in the build up to their match against Glasgow in the Pro12 semi-final on Saturday prompting the ever present question between battle hardened or battle weary players.
Anonymous post on Babbling Brook, the Leinster fan forum, just before the Heineken Cup semi-final against Clermont. “I know no one gives a boll1x at this point. (Maybe on Monday they might) But this game (Leinster v Dragons in the Rabo) is not televised. I’m half thinking of going if the unthinkable happens tomorrow (Leinster lose to Clermont).
I know it is a nothing game, but Setanta would have covered it. Humpf. I mean, the European champions are playing a game of Rugby and NO ONE wants to cover it.” If Eoin Reddan or Kevin McLaughlin were injured in Rodney Parade, that’s news.
Cup winners: Top marks as students get five out of five
UCD under-21 Captain Emmet MacMahon, his team-mates and coaches had good cause to celebrate with the McCorry Cup following their recent 29-25 defeat of Lansdowne at Donnybrook.
The trophy was the fifth win from five on offer to the students over the course of the season. A remarkable success rate no doubt as well as testament to the coaching of Vinny Hammond, John McClean and Pete Herangi.
The other trophies on the UCD sideboard are the Inter-Varsity Conroy Cup; the Colours Jamsie Maher Cup; the Leinster League JP Fanagan Cup and the IRFU All-Ireland Fraser McMullen Trophy. Hope the summer exams are going well!
Kicker: Top of the charts
The most recent stats from the Pro12 have Leinster’s Jonathan Sexton as the most proficient kicker in the league. While Sexton does not feature that much in the competition compared to say Ospreys Dan Biggar, his 27 goals from 30 attempts puts him top of the charts at 90.00 per cent.
Ronan O’Gara, with 25 from 30 efforts sits second on an 83.33 per cent strike rate, while Biggar, who does not have the luxury of a centrally organised player welfare scheme, has landed 76 penalties from 93 attempts.
