Irish cheek tries Saints' patience

London Irish will parade the Powergen Cup around the Madejski Stadium before Sunday's Zurich Premiership play-off clash with Northampton - the team they humiliated 38-7 in this season's final.

It would have been a brave move if the Irish were facing Northampton with a full strength line-up, so it appears amazingly foolhardy given the fact injuries have left the Exiles in a desperate state.

You can imagine the reaction from Northampton: "Guys, the Irish are winding us up, but don't worry only half their first team is turning out."

Conor O'Shea, the Irish director of rugby, is aware of that danger but hopes the appearance of the club's first trophy as a professional outfit will fire up an expected 10,000 crowd for what could be the last match of a remarkable season.

The Championship - as the play-offs are known - involves the top eight teams from the league this season and with the Irish finishing fourth and Northampton fifth, the Cup holders have home advantage.

The Irish will be without player-coach Brendan Venter (broken cheekbone), captain Ryan Strudwick (both shoulders damaged), prop Mike Worsley (neck), flanker Declan Danaher (neck), lock Steve Williams (knuckle), centre Rob Hoadley (toe), No 8 Chris Sheasby (back), hooker Naka Drotkse (knee) and full-back Michael Horak (numerous injuries).

"It's been a bit like running a hospital ward this week with the sick and wounded piling up all around us," said O'Shea, who quit the game this season due to injury.

"We have been running on empty for some time and now all those injuries have caught up with us with Ryan, the captain, a good example. He played against Sale and then had his arm put in a sling because he hurt a shoulder.

"Somehow, we managed to get another two games out of him and now both his shoulders are hurt and he cannot raise his arms above shoulder level. He needs an extended rest and that's what he will get.

"Although we won't have a full-strength side, I can promise Northampton a tough match because the guys we are bringing in have been knocking at the door demanding a chance. Now, having put their hands up, it's their opportunity to stake a claim for consideration next season.

"Ed Thrower, a member of the England Under-21 side, will be at full-back in place of Mike Horak. He'll learn a lot from this and the team will give it one last blast."

Lock Glen Delaney will lead an Irish side including Paul Gustard, on-loan from Leicester. O'Shea is hopeful Gustard will sign shortly but for now, the flanker has to try and subdue a Northampton side desperate to reach the play-off finals and clinch a Heineken Cup qualification place.

The Irish are already guaranteed that competition next season through their league finish and O'Shea added: "Our journey as a team has just started and the planning's already going into next season." Meanwhile, London Wasps have opted for a drastic solution to their lack of back-row options by naming England hooker Phil Greening as the open-side flanker for Sunday's play-off with Sale.

The decision is hard on Rory Jenkins, the England A flanker, who has been desperate to prove himself to head coach Warren Gatland after coming back from injury. It seems certain that Jenkins will not be offered a new deal.

Greening will welcome a full game, after replacement outings for Trevor Leota, as he will captain the England Sevens for the Twickenham leg of the World Series on 24-25 May. Wasps back-row reserves have been tested by the hand operations required by Lawrence Dallaglio and Paul Volley in the last week.

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