Tough Ask For Leeds' Battlers
Last time around
By Christopher Doyle
September 17 2009
After last week’s disappointment at Sixways I am looking forward to getting down to Headingley and seeing the lads put it right, let’s hope we can build on the home showing against Newcastle and the never say die attitude that also came out towards the end of the Worcester game. Although the Warriors did beat us 27-7 mainly all of their points were scored from our own mistakes.
Hopefully that won’t happen against the Exiles this week. The key to Sunday is whether the forwards can perform at scrum time and secure good lineout ball against a big experienced LI pack, this is what the backs need to be successful and score the all-important points.
However London Irish’s performance last week you could say was the complete opposite of ours with them hammering big boys Gloucester 40-10, with good running rugby on show. But a big loss for them was the injury to Delon Armitage, which will put the very talented and influential back out of this Sunday’s game and unfortunately many others. The last meeting between Leeds and London Irish saw them win 43-20.
The Exiles are building on their success from last year with a very strong and well balanced squad and whichever team that will be put out on Sunday is going to be a big challenge for us. A real danger man for them is Tagicakibau who scored 2 last week and with the likes of Stefon Armitage and Declan Danaher who I rate in the back row (I am sure Fourie will give them a run for their money) along with old heads like Mike Catt and Bob Casey it is going to make it an even harder challenge.
Good news for Leeds is that both Wentzel and Rawlinson are fit for this Sunday’s game, also Andy Key saying that Rabeni may only be a week or so off full fitness and the addition of Fa’afili this week we are slowly getting everyone back and will soon have Andy Key & Neil Back picking from a full squad. Sunday’s game as I’ve said before is going to be a hard one but we are on home turf and have a record to keep after not losing since last time round against Wasps in the 2007/08 season.
I have a lot of faith in the team whoever it is starting on Sunday and know they will give 110%, all I can do is shout and cheer until I go hoarse, but whatever the outcome we must get points on the table.
Cheers and see you Sunday.
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Delon is indeed a worry, but if he was match fit you would have been unlikely to have seen him this Sunday as we have to rest EPS players in advance of the AIs.
The danger for London Irish is running out as favourites, our message board resounds with "we're doomed!" posts whenever that happens. We are more than capable of losing against unfancied sides, you only have to look at the way we crashed out of the European Cup last season losing at home to Bourgoin.
I hope we have learned our lesson and come out and give you a good game. There is every indication that Leeds have no intention of picking their games and will contest every encounter. That is encouraging, it is good for the game and good for the supporters.
Let's just hope there is no repeat of the fisticuffs that Gloucester resorted to at the end of their last match.
Looking forward to meeting the home fans. If you see an eejit in an oversized bishop's mitre come and say hello!
Quote:I don't know who your talking about Farmerfarmertyke
We have plenty of eejits here already heck we even have a French Penguin.....
Some say he has a Tykes flag with team signatures on.
Others say that he's doing the same to the Carnegie flag,
All we know is that he's called Leeds carnegie signed flag.
Best of luck lads !