HEINEKEN CUP FINAL:A guide to both sides' starting 15 in Cardiff
LEINSTER:
15 Isa Nacewa
Age: 28. Height: 5'11" Weight: 88kg/ 13 stone 12lbs
Majestic all season. Leinster’s greatest ever signing, and that includes Rocky Elsom, has taken on an influence comparative to Xavi Hernandez at Barcelona.
14 Shane Horgan
Age: 32. Height: 6'4" Weight: 104kg/ 16 stone 5lbs
It is a testament to his continued influence that Fergus McFadden’s strong claims for inclusion are resisted. Guaranteed to thunder into sickening collisions with no concern for himself.
13 Brian O’Driscoll
Age: 32. Height: 5'9" Weight: 95kg/ 14 stone 13lbs
Look for him at the turning of the tide. Because, as always, with old friends either side of him, he’ll produce a performance from the depths of his soul.
12 Gordon D’Arcy
Age: 31. Height: 5'11" Weight: 88kg/ 13 stone 12 lbs
He’ll welcome Jimmy Downey into his patch of grass, returning the favour with multiple feet-shifting, hip-swerving rumbles. Despite his range of abilities, it is a constant and selfless endeavour that resonates.
11 Luke Fitzgerald
Age: 23. Height: 6'1" Weight: 92kg/ 14 stone 6lbs
Forget the fullback nightmare or frustrating overrunning of offloads, on the wing and up against the man he was denied a pop at during the Six Nations redemption is at hand.
10 Jonathan Sexton
Age: 25. Height: 6'2" Weight: 92kg/ 14 stone 6lbs
Another flawless kicking return may be required but he craves such responsibility now; recently admitting before the 2009 final he simply didn’t want to mess up. Now he is The General.
9 Eoin Reddan
Age: 30. Height: 5'8" Weight: 80kg/ 12 stone 8lbs
Vital experience as a try-scoring winner with Wasps in 2007. Holds off Isaac Boss although will eventually make way to his more physical understudy but not before outclassing Lee Dickson.
1 Cian Healy
Age: 23. Height: 6'1" Weight: 110kg/ 17 stone 4lbs
Fast approaching cult status. Expected to bust a gut for 60-odd minutes when he’ll seek to break even with Mujati in the scrum and break open some Saintly skulls.
2 Richardt Strauss
Age: 25. Height: 5'9" Weight: 98kg/ 15 stone 6lbs
Brilliant openside flanker disguised as a hooker. The wave of fear at his potential loss shows the value of the Free State Cheetah’s gift to Leinster and, some day soon, Ireland.
3 Mike Ross
Age: 31. Height: 6'2" Weight: 124kg/ 19 stone 7lbs
If ever his propping nous was needed then it is today. Street smarts and previous exchanges with Soane Tonga’uiha will be crucial at scrum-time.
4 Nathan Hines
Age: 34. Height: 6'7" Weight: 114kg/ 17 stone 13lbs
The sight of opposing young “Pom” Courtney Lawes should provide the ideal motivational tonic for the Wagga Wagga dog to come out. Let him off the leash.
5 Leo Cullen (capt)
Age: 32. Height: 6'6" Weight: 11kg/ 17 stone 6lbs
If he figures out the Saints lineout, like he did the Tigers’, then Leinster are halfway home. Communication with Roman Poite will be crucial at scrums and the breakdown.
6 Kevin McLaughlin
Age: 26. Height: 6'4" Weight: 109kg/ 17 stone 2lbs
Lineout ability fends off vice-captain Shane Jennings, along with young tyros Dominic Ryan and Rhys Ruddock, indicating his reliability and reward for recent uncompromising displays.
7 Seán O’Brien
Age: 24. Height: 6'2" Weight: 108kg/ 17 stone
Rampaging runs will be needed again. Great campaign must be reinforced by dominating opposing backrowers who pale in comparison.
8 Jamie Heaslip
Age: 27. Height: 6'4" Weight: 109kg/ 17 stone 2lbs
O’Brien’s unrelenting rise seems to have provoked the ideal response from the man with the potential to challenge Kieran Reid as the premier number eight.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
15 Ben Foden
Age: 25. Height: 6'0" Weight: 91kg/ 14 stone 4lb
Perfectly balanced and deceptively powerful runner has already confirmed his world-class status at Test level. Forget the arrest over a tiff with a cabbie or the Tipperary-born popstar girlfriend, Foden must be shadowed on every counter-attack or he will open up Leinster.
14 Chris Ashton
Age: 24. Height: 6'0" Weight: 92kg/14 stone 6 lb
Best winger in Europe? Certainly runs the tastiest support lines. The Wigan Rugby League product is definitely the sturdiest winger around as proved by his stubborn refusal to crumble despite three haymakers from Manu Tuilagi last Saturday (how’s the head?). Potential match-winner when roaming off in-field.
13 Jon Clarke
Age: 27. Height: 6'2" Weight: 96kg/ 15 stone 1 lb
Showed up French centre David Marty in the semi-final defeat of Perpignan with some quality footwork and has all the necessary skills of an outside centre despite being some way inferior to his opposite number.
12 James Downey
Age: 30. Height: 6'4" Weight: 104kg/ 16 stone 4 lb
Recent offloads on the gainline rubbish the easily pigeon-holed one-dimensional journeyman status of a 30-year-old long ignored by Irish representative teams, not that the Belvedere College man is a better 12 than Gordon D’Arcy, but you will not find someone with more to prove.
11 Paul Diggin
Age: 26. Height: 5'8" Weight: 84kg/ 13 stone 3lbs
Local lad. Prolific try-scorer in the “good player but not a great player, Bill” mould who, like his half-back teammates, appears to have missed the international boat.
10 Steve Myler
Age: 26. Height: 6'2" Weight: 89kg/ 14 stone
Born into a famous rugby league family, his switch to union five years ago has worked out mainly because he is a better place-kicker than Shane Geraghty. Appears to have the composure to boot Northampton to victory.
9 Lee Dickson
Age: 26. Height: 5'11" Weight: 76 kg/ 11 stone 13lbs
An important cog in the Saints machine. The playmaker in many respects, he can generate a dangerous rhythm should his pack gain supremacy but, equally, his kicking from the base of a creaking ruck can be exposed.
1 Soane Tonga’uiha
Age: 29. Height: 6'5" Weight: 147kg/ 23 stone 1 lb
Would probably be an All Black if he hadn’t played league ahead of union until he was 15. Raw power of a Tongan, skill-set garnered in Auckland, while Dorian West helped to develop his train-wreck scrummaging. Another potential match-winner.
2 Dylan Hartley (capt)
Age: 25. Height: 6'1" Weight: 113 kg/ 17 stone 11 lbs
Confrontational to the point of annoyance but a cracking player. The Leicester think-tank picked off a few of his lineouts much like Leo Cullen did to the Tigers’. Otherwise, he will be the driving force behind ever other Saints carry off the ruck.
3 Brian Mujati
Age: 26. Height: 5'11" Weight: 116kg/ 18 stone 3 lbs
Third piece of an immense frontrow. Shades of Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira from the fellow Zimbabwean with 12 Springbok caps so when he is not attempting to screw up Cian Healy, or a more familiar foe in Heinke van der Merwe, expect some big carriers.
4 Courtney Lawes
Age: 22. Height: 6'7" Weight: 104kg/ 16 stone 5lbs
Prototype of the modern-day lock. Freakish athlete with all the skills and a great future but was bashed up last week (shoulder) and earlier this season (knee) although there is probably one more massive, unrelenting performance in him today.
5 Christian Day
Age: 27. Height: 6'6" Weight: 106kg/ 16 stone 9lbs
One of Jim Mallinder’s favourites, enticed from Sale to join the Saints revolution, so he brings aggression and leadership qualities (former England under-21 captain) that mirrors his coach’s rugby philosophy. Important technician at restarts and lineouts.
6 Calum Clark
Age: 21. Height: 6'4" Weight: 97kg/ 15 stone 3lb
Versatile and a valid lineout option, Clark is tasked with filling the boots of a player (Tom Wood,) many feel is capable of following Richard Hill as the next great England blindside. A lot to ask of a young guy but a decent operator nonetheless.
7 Phil Dowson
Age: 30. Height: 6'3" Weight: 106kg/ 16 stone 9lbs
Honest, albeit lightweight, and decent enough support player without being a natural link-man. Will presumably attempt to bury Jonathan Sexton as early as possible but, overall, should be eclipsed by Tullow’s finest.
8 Roger Wilson
Age: 29. Height: 6'3" Weight: 106kg/ 16 stone 9lbs
Wilson will go up to a new level for at least 60 minutes. His massive belt into Henry Tuilagi against Perpignan showed his fearlessness but must carry the game to Leinster and that means out-playing Jamie Heaslip. Unlikely, but a dominant scrum would help.
