Long shot for Tigers, says Greenwood
FORMER England legend Will Greenwood believes the Leicester Tigers will start as underdogs for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup showdown with Leinster.
Despite the Tigers being known for their big game experience, Greenwood expects Leinster to have the drive to topple the Premiership champions at Murrayfield, and keep the title on Irish shores.
“It’s going to be an absolutely fascinating final, but Leinster must start as slight favourites,” the former Tigers centre predicted. “Leicester are tremendous in the set-piece, tough in the back division and are a bit like a piece of chewing gum on your shoe, you just can’t get rid of them. But I expect Leinster to have the drive, commitment and physical intensity to come out on top.
“Despite having giants such as Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy and Shane Horgan in the ranks, Leinster have had to bear the tag of second best team in Ireland, behind Munster, for too long, and will be on the crest of a wave after beating their rivals in the semi-final. Now, they will be desperate to finish the job and match Munster’s achievement of last year and prove they are worthy of taking a stranglehold of Europe.”
Greenwood won three Premiership titles in his four years at Welford Road but had rejoined Harlequins by the time the Tigers claimed back-to-back European titles under the captaincy of Martin Johnson and management of current Quins chief Dean Richards.
Now, after missing out to Wasps in the 2007 final, the Tigers are gunning for a third European crown, but Greenwood believes that Richard Cockerill’s men have it all to do.
“Richard will be well aware that if his side perform the way they did against Irish in the Premiership final last weekend, then they will come unstuck against Leinster, who are technically good enough to play at 60 per cent against a team like Irish. At 100 per cent, they would take some beating from any club team in the world.
“Leicester’s win at Twickenham will give them confidence, momentum and belief, but this is a whole new ball game.”
Will Greenwood is a Heineken ambassador. Heineken, the premium continental beer, have been proud sponsor of the Heineken Cup since its inception in 1995.