For the first time since 2010 this weekend’s European finals have no immediate relevance to Irish rugby. Unless you are Peter Stringer or, at a stretch, Eoin Sheriff.
The 36-year-old scrumhalf Stringer has lost his place in the Bath starting XV to Micky Young, 11 years his junior, but could feature off the bench in tonight's Challenge Cup final against Northampton in Cardiff. Extension Stringer has already secured an extension to his Bath contract that will see him play into his 38th year. He has been a professional since 1998.
"When you get to these big days the whole occasion just creeps up on you and you can let it absorb you," Stringer told the Bath Chronicle this week.
“The challenge is to not let the emotion get in the way of what you want to do and not let the occasion take over; that’s what I’ve learnt over the years.
“As much as you try to prepare for games like this during the week, until you actually experience them it’s hard to know what you are going to face.
“I’ve had some good days and I’ve taken bits and pieces from them all. Hopefully it will stand me in good stead come another.”
With 98 caps for Ireland, a Six Nations Grand Slam from 2009 and two Heineken Cups medals with Munster, tonight would represent new ground for the Cork native.
The only Irishman with any chance of being involved in tomorrow’s last ever Heineken Cup final is Sheriff. The 25-year-old Wexford lock did make the replacements bench for Saracens’ quarter-final victory at Ravenhill but appears to be the fourth choice behind club captain Steve Borthwick, Mouritz Botha and Alistair Hargreaves.
Sheriff, who left Leinster at the end of 2011, having been unable to break into the first team, did make the bench for last weekend’s Premiership semi-final victory over Conor O’Shea’s Harlequins but is unlikely to have a major role against Toulon at the Millennium stadium.
Player of the season There is also no Irish representation in the ERC shortlist for player of the season. This is a three-two split between Saracens and Toulon as Jacques Burger, Chris Ashton and Schalk Brits represent the English club, while Englishmen Jonny Wilkinson and backrow Steffon Armitage have been Toulon's most influential players in Europe.
Wilkinson won the prize last season, while Rob Kearney and Seán O’Brien were the previous two recipients.
The judging panel is Gerry Thornley (The Irish Times), Stuart Barnes (Sky Sports), Mick Cleary (Daily Telegraph), Marc Duzan (Midi Olympique), and former French international Emile Ntamack.
Australia squad Meanwhile, Leinster received some good news yesterday when Kane Douglas was excluded from the 32-man Wallaby squad for next month's Test series against France.
Australia coach Ewen McKenzie also dropped last season’s captain Ben Mowen, who has signed for Montpellier in what appears a clear policy to select players staying in Australia until the 2015 World Cup.
"I'd love to wear the gold jersey and if I get the chance to play this year I'll do all I can to make the team go as good as it can go," Douglas had told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“When my contract ends in Ireland, in the back of my head I’m thinking I’d like to come back and wear it again. But it’s not up to me . . . I just have to keep playing good footy and if they choose me they choose me, but if they find reasons not to, then so be it.”
