The London Irish players are the biggest killjoys in the Guinness Premiership. Last time we went down they ruined my day at HQ with a well deserved “away” win. This season they are no better, arriving at Headingley Carnegie back in January as a potential four points for the ‘Negies and sneaking off with a win despite never really getting into their stride. Other than that one or two of them are not bad lakers. The current pick of the bunch is twenty-one year old Shane Geraghty who plays at  fly half. By contrast the thirty- six year old Mike Catt remains as influential as ever. The Exiles have just come to the end of a sparkling Heineken Cup run when they were edged out in a semi final thriller by Toulouse.

The Leeds club has already shown its  intent by announcing the release of eleven players, along with the retirement of three others. The decks have been cleared for next season’s campaign and Stuart Lancaster has already blooded a number of the club’s  young prospects including Scott Armstrong, Adam Greendale and Luther Burrell in the GP. By the time Leeds returns to the GP Burrell could well be first choice in the centre alongside Henry Paul. Whilst more signings are expected the Leeds faithful will have to make do this week with a side which will almost certainly have one or two “prospects” in the line-up to supplement the weary regulars in what is the penultimate game of the season. However it must be remembered that trying to second guess Lanny’s team selection is only slightly harder than winning the lottery rollover jackpot. Players who figure in next season’s plans will get the starting slots so it will be interesting to see if Tom Biggs plays. The rumour of his imminent departure for Sale has died down but has not gone away completely yet. SL has consistently selected Stuart Hooper since he announced he was going to Bath, which has puzzled some of the fans but Hoops has remained as consistent as ever in those games and will lead the side out at the Majedski.

If there is one thing the Leeds fans making the trip to Reading can be sure of is it is a warm welcome from the home crowd. The Majedski stadium is one of the best rugby stadia in the country. It would be fitting if the lads could rain on LI’s parade. The team’s form over the last few weeks suggests that this is unlikely. I for one thought we would beat them in January so here is the team’s last opportunity to wreak some revenge…….for a season or so at least.

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