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Irish coaches hope to lead Saracens and Harlequins to Heineken Cup glory Irish coaches hope to lead Saracens and Harlequins to Heineken Cup glory
(6 months later)
It has been four long years since the English Premiership had three clubs in the last eight of the Heineken Cup. In the intervening period Ireland and France have conspicuously held the balance of power and the two strongest teams left in this season's tournament still appear to be Clermont Auvergne and Toulon. The English, even so, still have a collective sniff, which is all a half-decent underdog ever needs.It has been four long years since the English Premiership had three clubs in the last eight of the Heineken Cup. In the intervening period Ireland and France have conspicuously held the balance of power and the two strongest teams left in this season's tournament still appear to be Clermont Auvergne and Toulon. The English, even so, still have a collective sniff, which is all a half-decent underdog ever needs.
Home advantage for Harlequins (against Munster) and Saracens (against Ulster) either side of the A316 in Twickenham this weekend has encouraged the hope that it may be different this time. It is now over a decade since any English side apart from Wasps won the club game's most prestigious trophy, making it all the more intriguing that the Premiership's two leading contenders are both steered by Irish directors of rugby. It is an even smaller world if you examine it a little more closely.Home advantage for Harlequins (against Munster) and Saracens (against Ulster) either side of the A316 in Twickenham this weekend has encouraged the hope that it may be different this time. It is now over a decade since any English side apart from Wasps won the club game's most prestigious trophy, making it all the more intriguing that the Premiership's two leading contenders are both steered by Irish directors of rugby. It is an even smaller world if you examine it a little more closely.
Conor O'Shea, Mark McCall and David Humphreys, Ulster's supremo, were all part of the same London Irish backline in 1997-98, while Brendan Venter, still a behind-the-scenes influence at Saracens, also made a sizeable impact at Sunbury. So did Sir Clive Woodward a few years earlier. McCall used to coach Ulster and he and Humphreys, once O'Shea's house-mate, remain firm friends. "He [Humphreys] could have done whatever he wanted to do outside the game," recalled McCall this week. "He could have been a lawyer but decided to go into coaching, which is great. He was always a great thinker of the game."Conor O'Shea, Mark McCall and David Humphreys, Ulster's supremo, were all part of the same London Irish backline in 1997-98, while Brendan Venter, still a behind-the-scenes influence at Saracens, also made a sizeable impact at Sunbury. So did Sir Clive Woodward a few years earlier. McCall used to coach Ulster and he and Humphreys, once O'Shea's house-mate, remain firm friends. "He [Humphreys] could have done whatever he wanted to do outside the game," recalled McCall this week. "He could have been a lawyer but decided to go into coaching, which is great. He was always a great thinker of the game."
In a week when Ireland are casting around for a new national head coach, it seems distinctly perverse that none of this highly intelligent trio, for assorted reasons, look set to take over the reins.In a week when Ireland are casting around for a new national head coach, it seems distinctly perverse that none of this highly intelligent trio, for assorted reasons, look set to take over the reins.
That situation may change one day but McCall's account of how he started coaching at Ulster in 1999, the year the province won the European Cup, suggests the pathways for budding young Irish coaches have not been particularly smooth. "Ulster had a part-time backs coach called Colin Wilkinson who was a car salesman and couldn't get away. I just sneaked in ahead of him. He was asked to do it full-time but said no and I jumped in."That situation may change one day but McCall's account of how he started coaching at Ulster in 1999, the year the province won the European Cup, suggests the pathways for budding young Irish coaches have not been particularly smooth. "Ulster had a part-time backs coach called Colin Wilkinson who was a car salesman and couldn't get away. I just sneaked in ahead of him. He was asked to do it full-time but said no and I jumped in."
The past, though, has only passing relevance this weekend. Ulster proved it in their last outing, securing a first away win in Dublin for 14 years at the expense of Leinster. This, along with Tommy Bowe's return on the bench, has generated justified optimism in Belfast of a second successive final appearance but Saracens' form in recent weeks suggests a team visibly gathering in confidence as they enter the closing stages of the season.The past, though, has only passing relevance this weekend. Ulster proved it in their last outing, securing a first away win in Dublin for 14 years at the expense of Leinster. This, along with Tommy Bowe's return on the bench, has generated justified optimism in Belfast of a second successive final appearance but Saracens' form in recent weeks suggests a team visibly gathering in confidence as they enter the closing stages of the season.
Harlequins have been making similarly upbeat noises, while remaining wary and respectful of Munster, for whom the indefatigable Ronan O'Gara will be playing his 109th Heineken game. Simon Zebo and Paul O'Connell are also both back in the visitors' starting XV and will hope to give the Lions' head coach, Warren Gatland, a timely reminder of their abilities.Harlequins have been making similarly upbeat noises, while remaining wary and respectful of Munster, for whom the indefatigable Ronan O'Gara will be playing his 109th Heineken game. Simon Zebo and Paul O'Connell are also both back in the visitors' starting XV and will hope to give the Lions' head coach, Warren Gatland, a timely reminder of their abilities.
A similar desire exists on the Côte D'Azur where Jonny Wilkinson, Andrew Sheridan and the Armitage brothers all start against Leicester in a Toulon side containing only four Frenchmen. The Tigers, who have lost on their last six trips across the Channel, will again be captained by Toby Flood, in direct opposition to his former Newcastle team-mate Wilkinson for the first time.A similar desire exists on the Côte D'Azur where Jonny Wilkinson, Andrew Sheridan and the Armitage brothers all start against Leicester in a Toulon side containing only four Frenchmen. The Tigers, who have lost on their last six trips across the Channel, will again be captained by Toby Flood, in direct opposition to his former Newcastle team-mate Wilkinson for the first time.
It will take something special to stop the hosts, just as it will stop Clermont at the Stade Marcel Michelin, where Montpellier are attempting to end the hosts' 58-game unbeaten home record in all competitions. An Anglo-French semi-final line-up comprising Saracens v Toulon and Clermont v Harlequins feels more likely.It will take something special to stop the hosts, just as it will stop Clermont at the Stade Marcel Michelin, where Montpellier are attempting to end the hosts' 58-game unbeaten home record in all competitions. An Anglo-French semi-final line-up comprising Saracens v Toulon and Clermont v Harlequins feels more likely.
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