European Cup: Gavin Cummiskeyvisits London Irish as they prepare for what may prove the defining match of Pool One

Despite two bonus-point victories, one away to the Dragons, providing a dream start to their third European Cup experience, London Irish are expected, by most observers, ultimately to fail. The visit of Perpignan to the Madejski Stadium this Sunday is shaping up to be the defining match of Pool One.

While those two wins give them an opportunity to reach the knockout stages for the first time, the problem with London Irish is they lack the resources to make a dual impact, in the Premiership and in Europe. After seven league games they lie second from bottom of the domestic table, 16 points adrift of leaders Gloucester.

The World Cup hurt them badly, the absence of their Argentina number eight Juan Leguizamón and their England halfbacks Mike Catt and Peter Richards leaving an irreplaceable void in the eight, nine, 10 axis.

Then there is the failure of their former Springbok prop Faan Rautenbach and their former All Black prop Clarke Dermody to get off the treatment table. Add the potentially world-class Shane Geraghty (fractured thumb) to the casualty list.

"We're a long way off being genuine contenders for the Heineken Cup and genuine contenders for the Premiership," confirms the director of rugby, Brian Smith. "We're capable of shaking things up but you have to have a big squad like Leicester, with two players in every position of international calibre, so if you have injuries or someone is called up to play for England you don't suffer.

"Clearly we've got a small squad. We've got a terrific team but if we get injuries or, as the World Cup showed, international call-ups, what we are capable of outputting is affected."

The six-try explosion that filleted the Dragons in round two supports this theory. Catt was back conducting an array of foreign three-quarters; Delon Armitage and Argentine wing Tomas De Vedia wreaked havoc. Add Seilala Mapusua and Sailosi Tagicakibau to this mix, and the decent place-kicking return of the Australian fullback Peter Hewat, and the Exiles are a real force.

"If we keep scoring tries the way we are we could get a home quarter-final," says Smith. "After that we are capable of beating anyone, as we have proved. "

Only after meeting the people who run London Irish do you really detect what they are all about. They aren't just a club for "outsiders"; they aren't simply a business; they aren't merely a team relentlessly pursuing an expansive style. They are a combination of all three. When they strike a balance, as in Newport, they are the finest advertisement for rugby.

Catt is an integral part of the club, the 36-year-old having been formally announced as player coach on his return from the World Cup. His main brief is to ensure young players like Geraghty evolve into leaders. Basically, replace Catt when the legs give way.

"Over the past two seasons we've been able to use excuses," he says. "We've got a young squad. Guys were still developing, still learning, whereas now they have had two years of Premiership experience and a year of Heineken Cup. A lot of these guys have stood up and been counted.

"I think it is vital we stay in the European Cup so we've got to make sure we do well in the Premiership (top six) and then just try and take the opportunities that come in our pool."

With Catt's shift to the coaching staff, Smith saw Bob Casey's elevation to the club captaincy as a "no brainer". Casey's continued exclusion from Eddie O'Sullivan's international set-up is one of the great enigmas of Irish rugby. Two seasons back a furore erupted at the normally serene Ireland squad announcement when somebody dared to question O'Sullivan on the continued omission of the in-form lock.

Casey was one of the sacrificial lambs after the 50-18 defeat to England in 2000. The overhaul and subsequent improvement in results gave Warren Gatland a short reprieve.

The Kildare native, educated at Blackrock College, arrived at Sunbury in July 2002 and though he has been a regular on Premiership teams of the season, a brief recall for Ireland A has been his only shot at redemption.

"It doesn't surprise me anymore because it has been happening for so long," said Smith of the continued exile of his captain. "Eddie has clearly made up his mind about Bob Casey, despite protests from the coaching staff at London Irish.

"Ireland have a lot of terrific locks but I just can't see how Bob Casey is not up in the top four or five . . . He absolutely dominates the Premiership line-outs and has done for four years. He's an inspirational force at our club.

"It really depends on the sort of game you want to play but I don't know if there is a better lock in Europe to maul off. I just don't see why he is not in the mix."

The treatment of Casey - and to a lesser extent of Geordan Murphy - can be seen as helping dissuade English-born Irishmen, like the brilliant Geraghty, from declaring for their ancestral home.

Returning home is always an option (see Shane Jennings and Leo Cullen) but when you become part of a club's fabric, like Casey at London Irish, that choice becomes clouded.

"Some time ago Gloucester came shopping for Bob and tried to pinch him," said Smith. "We managed to batten down the hatches and keep him here. We're about to lock him up for another three seasons. At that point he will have to decide whether to do another two years here or go home to finish up."

Understandably, Casey has tired of the recurring international theme. He still holds out hope of a recall and commenting on the subject has done him no favours in the past.

Perpignan, minus the injured Percy Montgomery, provide another big stage for the 6ft 8ins, 19st 5lbs man mountain to showcase his talent. His direct opponent will be Nathan Hines.

"Our Heineken Cup campaign rests on the home Perpignan game," says Casey. "It's massive. We'll worry about the away game after that. We still have time to recover in the Premiership. The Six Nations is usually a good time for us to pick up points.

"This is the peak of my career, especially for someone in my position and at my age. You've got to make the best of it now."

The rest is supposed to take care of itself.