History will be kind to me because I intend to write it

Mirror work early May / late April

Mike Catt looks to write history and tame Leicester Tigers – just don’t mention retirement

Back in 2003, when he was 32-years old, Mike Catt helped England make history when – against the odds – his team defeated Australia in Sydney to lift the World Cup for the first, and last, time. Tomorrow the evergreen fly-half will be looking to rewrite the record books again, when he steps out at Twickenham in the Guinness Premiership Final.

South African-born Catt moved to London Irish five years ago, having been labelled a has-been after over decade at Bath. And, under the guidance of first Brian Smith – now England’s backs coach – and Toby Booth, Irish have become a force to be reckoned with. Catt has very much been at the centre of this new-found success.

Last Saturday the 37-year-old made one try and scored another in the 17-0 win over Harlequins at the Stoop in the Guinness Premiership semi-final. That victory earned the Exiles their first Guinness Premiership final in their long history – and now they are playing the most formidable opponents possible, in Leicester Tigers.

Leicester, who finished top of the tree in the domestic season and have a Heineken Cup Final to play against Leinster next Saturday, have made it to the Guinness Premiership Final day in each of the past five years.

To many observers it looks as though it will be slingshots against giants, but that does not faze Catt. He says: “We are playing against the most experienced, streetwise side in the Premiership – they have been in the final every year for the past five years. All those players have been involved in big Heineken Cup and Guinness Premiership final games – they know how to win games.

“But so do we, as we have proved this season. We have been consistent throughout – and the Guinness Premiership Final is our just rewards. The most we have lost a game by is six points in the whole season. We have got points irrespective of who we are playing. We have put ourselves in a very good position. It has been a fantastic season. We have scored more tries than anybody else and defensively we have bullied sides.

“The difference for us this season has been our fitness, power and pace. In the past two or three years we have been bullied by teams but now we are standing toe-to-toe with them. That is great for our confidence. We have not changed much from what Brian Smith brought to the table. We have the players and we know the game we really want to play. All we have done is tried to cut out those small individual errors.

“It is about us playing our way and making sure that we don’t make unforced errors. We need to be very technical in what we do. We are a very emotional side, London Irish, so we just have to make sure that we are not too emotionally charged up. Moreover, the guys have just got to enjoy the moment.”

Irish, who name an unchanged team from last week’s win – including centre Seilala Mapusua, the man named Players’ Player of the Year on Wednesday, England second row Nick Kennedy and captain Bob Casey, all of who were doubtful – have the ability to tame the Tigers. With a decent set-piece line-out, in particular, and game-changing athletes in Delon and Steffon Armitage, tomorrow’s game could go right to the wire.

And when asked whether it would provide a fitting stage for his final bow in a glittering career, Catt – who turns 38 in September – hints that he may be around for another season, yet. “I’ve always been of the mindset, never say never,” he continues. “Leaving Bath was a massive gut-wrenching thing for me to do, having achieved so much in my 11 years there. For them to discard me in the way that they did was very hard to take.

“But it opened another door for me. The first year was very tough as I did not play much rugby. But then Brian Smith turned up and we based the game around playing. Since then we have developed and every year we have got better and better. And it has been great fun doing it.

“I’m passionate about the game and I love playing. London Irish’s man-management of me has been fantastic over the past three or four years – if I can’t train a couple of days a week they let me take time out. Then, if I don’t perform on a Saturday they can drop me. But they way that it has worked out it has definitely helped – and meant that I can still play at the age I am.

“If I announce my retirement now then it would take something away from what London Irish have achieved this season. I have no interest in doing that, first of all. I think this will only be my fifteenth game of the season – whereas some of the other guys have played nearer 30 games. I’m not going to announce my retirement before a big game – it’s not all about me. It is about London Irish.

“I will make a decision over the summer in my time off. But we have brought in two fly-halves – Ryan Lamb, who is a great catch for us, and Chris Malone. They have both picked up serious injuries, and we will know, in a few months time when pre-season starts, whether these guys are going to be OK for the start of the season. If not, then I will do a pre-season and do the start of the season. When they are fit and healthy and raring to go then can just take a back seat. That is the way I am thinking at the moment.”


Stephen Jones on banishing his Lions demons

Mike Catt overcomes flu to inspire London Irish to victory over Harlequins in the Guinness Premiership semi-final

Ugo Monye previews that semi-final and speaks about his Lions selection

A profile of Franck Ribery, who Manchester United want - and are willing to pay a reported £63m for

And 10 things you need to know about the departing Liverpool legend Sami Hyypia

Labels: bath, British Lions, franck ribery, Guinness Premiership, London Harlequins, London Irish, Manchester United, mike catt, stephen jones

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 12:51 pm | Permalink | Comments

HODGSON HOPING TO MARRY PERSONAL SUCCESS WITH EXILE GLORY

While most Guinness Premiership clubs fought out Round 19 last weekend, and his resting London Irish team-mates monitored the progress of other play-off hopefuls, Paul Hodgson, using the backdrop of Dubai’s imposing skyscrapers and glorious beaches, bent his knee and proposed to his long-term girlfriend, Trudi.

The 26-year-old heard the answer he wanted and is now hopeful he can achieve double success by propelling the Exiles to domestic glory. Of the marriage proposal Hodgson grins: “I wasn’t nervous at all. I did it on the first night and then we went ring shopping the next day – that kept Trudi happy for the rest of the week!

“We are getting married some time next summer, but I will have to speak to the fitness coaches and see when an appropriate date is. Everything has to fit around rugby, which Trudi will have to get used to! My main goal now is to help bring London Irish some silverware this year.”

With three rounds to play Hodgson’s Irish sit third on 55 points, two behind Leicester Tigers, who slipped up at Newcastle, and four ahead of sixth-placed Sale Sharks. On Saturday they host bottom-placed Bristol – where the 5’ 8” scrum-half spent three formative years before moving to the Madejski in 2004 – knowing that a win is a must if their play-off hopes are to be realised.

“It is really tight at the top,” says Hodgson, who won his only international cap to date last March, coming off the bench in England’s RBS 6 Nations victory over Ireland. “I still think six teams are in with a chance of making the last four.

“It has been topsy-turvy all season – if the league finished a week later I bet you would see a different top four. But we just have to look after ourselves. If we win all our remaining games then we will be there, in the play-offs, without a doubt – because other teams will drop points. We know that our destiny is in our own hands.”

Hodgson expects his former team, Bristol, to put up a good fight at the Madejski – and knows first-hand what new coach Paul Hull is capable of, having been coached by him for two seasons in the West Country club’s academy. “We might not have had the best XV on paper in the Bristol under-21s, but Paul got the best out of all of us,” continues the Epsom-born No9. “And that is his best attribute as a coach – he gives you confidence, knows how to unlock potential and is also good at being hard on the players when he needs to be.

“I can’t see any reason why he won’t be very successful as coach of Bristol. He is a Bristol man, too, so he will care as much as anyone else. Whether they go down or not he is the best man for the job there.”

When Bristol were relegated from the top division in 2003, Hodgson was convinced to stay at the club by Hull’s predecessor, ex-England scrum-half Richard Hill, as he was promised a starting berth. “That season I played 33 games in Division One – and I think that year was the most important of my rugby career,” Hodgson says. “I could not have had a better coach than Richard at that time. He played a big part in my career, that’s for sure. Richard has done an outstanding job at Bristol. He is very astute and his attention to detail was fantastic – he is a quality coach and he will succeed wherever he ends up.”

Bristol defeated Worcester Warriors 37-18 last Sunday and, after resurgence under Hull, Hodgson expects them to be tough opposition for London Irish. He adds: “Bristol may have almost gone down but you can guarantee that those players will be fighting 100 per cent to stay up.

“Anyone who is desperate is dangerous – so we will not underestimate them at all and not let complacency enter our game. We know that it is going to be tough and that we will have to be at the top of our game. It is no easy task to finish fourth, but we are confident and he boys feel rested and really ready for it.”

Labels: England, Guinness Premiership, London Irish, Paul Hodgson

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 5:35 pm | Permalink | Comments

IRISH SLIP UP AGAINST QUINS

London Irish slipped up at home in the Guinness Premiership to Harlequins, after hooker David Paice was dismissed after only 22 minutes.

Irish lost 9-14 and dropped to third, but took the lead after Peter Hewet's penalty in the 11th minute.

Quins' fly-half Nick Evans replied with a penalty before Paice was show the red card for scrapping in the front row and backchat to referee Tim Wigglesworth.

Evans slotted the resulting penalty and Hewet levelled again, before he hobbled off with medial ligament damage five minutes before the interval.

Irish went ahead after 43 minutes when Alfredo Lalanne kicked another penalty.

But visiting prop Ceri Jones scored the decisive try to make It 11-9 with 30 minutes remaining. Evans kicked a penalty with four minutes left and his team moved up to fifth.

"We disrupted them and the sending off disrupted them," said Quins coach Dean Richards. "Their defence was pretty strong even though they only had 14 men. I was very pleased with the performance. We deserved the victory."

Irish coach Toby Booth said: "Playing 60 minutes with 14 people is not easy. We knew that we would not have the ball for long periods of time but I am proud with the way they stuck at it."

Teams

London Irish: 15. Peter Hewat 14. Adam Thompstone 13. Elvis Seveali'i 12. Seilala Mapusua 11. Topsy Ojo 10. Mike Catt 9. Alfredo Lalanne 1. Clarke Dermody 2. David Paice 3. Tonga Lea'aetoa 4. Gary Johnson 5. James Hudson 6. Richard Thorpe 7. Steffon Armitage 8. Chris Hala'ufia

Replacements: 16. Alex Corbisiero 17. James Buckland 18. Matt Garvey 19. Jon Fisher 20. Charlie Gower 21. Warren Fury 22. James Bailey

Penalties: Hewet 2, Lalanne

Harlequins: 15. Mike Brown 14. Tom Williams 13. Gonzalo Tiesi 12. Jordan Turner-Hall 11. Ugo Monye 10. Nick Evans 9. Andy Gomarsall 1. Ceri Jones 2. Gary Botha 3. Mark Lambert 4. Ollie Kohn 5. George Robson 6. Chris Robshaw 7. Will Skinner 8. Tom Guest

Replacements: 16. Chris Brooker 17. Peter Bracken 18. Jim Evans 19. Neil McMillan 20. Junior Poluleuligaga 21. Waisea Luveniyali 22. David Strettle

Try: Jones
Penalties: Evans 3

Labels: Guinness Premiership, London Harlequins, London Irish

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NARRAWAY HOPING TO MAKE IT THIRD TIME LUCKY

When Gloucester host London Irish in the Guinness Premiership's top-of-the-table clash on Saturday, home No8 Luke Narraway is hoping to make it third time lucky as captain. Club skipper Mike Tindall has missed the last two matches due to a dead leg, and - in the centre's absence - 25-year-old Narraway's team have lost to Cardiff Blues and Biarritz and been dumped out of the Heineken Cup.

Now out of Europe's premier competition and after three successive losses, the England international is determined to ensure the second-placed cherry and whites' season gets back on track this weekend - and to stop the ribbing from his team-mates who have joked that Narraway is destined to never win as their skipper.

"I've enjoyed being captain, it has filled me with pride," said the King's School Worcester alumnus, "but the boys have given me some stick, as my record is nought from two!

"This is my seventh season for Gloucester and I've come through the academy, so I know what Gloucester's all about. But we've got a great captain in Mike and I'm he's got more seasons in him yet. However if one day the opportunity arises, it would be a great honour to take on the captaincy full time.

"Everyone believes that we're good enough to go on and win this competition, and we've got the belief there, too. But confidence is a funny old thing in rugby and we are putting 110 per cent in, yet something's not quite clicking.

"We've just strayed off our lines a bit at the moment; we're struggling for a little bit of form and on the back of a few defeats this is where we really want to show our worth. This is where the squad is being pushed to the limit and we've got to show our mettle, grind out some wins and get us back on the road."

Narraway, who made his England bow in the last Six Nations, has been away with Martin Johnson's squad in Portugal this week, but he knows that the next month - while he and his international team-mates are on duty - will be crucial to his club side's hopes of attaining their first silverware since the European Challenge Cup three year's ago.

In February, Gloucester take on high-flyers Sale Sharks and Bath at Kingsholm, and Harlequins at the Stoop in between. The five-cap Red Rose continued: "We've got a lot of internationals going away to various countries and got a lot of injuries, but we're not using that as an excuse.

"The next month is massive. We're going to do everything in our power to make sure, before the Six Nations, we pick up as many points as we can and that we're still in the top four when the international guys come back. I hope the injured players come back to form so we're there with a full squad at the end of the season and the confidence is running high."

Narraway has hit out at those critics who reason that the Gloucester pack is too lightweight to dominate a game - he believes it is an easy get out for them, and that they are not fully appreciating the game that Dean Ryan is trying to utilise.

"The media have been going on about it for so long that people start to think it without actually saying what they're seeing," he said. "Guys from the pack are coming off with bumps and bruises, taking big hits but never seem to get the praise for it. It is annoying when you open up the papers and see people saying you're not physical enough. The way we play the game, we like to play with the ball. We're not a team that's going to go with forwards lining up and sometimes it's hard to impose a
physical and stereotypical forward game on the opposition."

Narraway believes that the Kingsholm factor will play a part if Gloucester are to overcome league leaders Irish, who defeated them 42-12 at the Madejski Stadium in December. "We pride ourselves on our home form and probably this year it hasn't been as good as we hoped," he added.

"Irish are a great team - they've been threatening to do what they've been doing this year for a couple of seasons. What they offer is an incredibly enthusiastic and aggressive way of playing, and a good kicking game on the back of that.

"In the last fixture we lost the cohesion up-front and ultimately our kicking game wasn't very good and they pinned us back and made us make mistakes. We've got to make sure, at home, our cohesion is there right from the off and we pin Irish back and maybe we can force the mistakes for once."

Labels: Gloucester, Guinness Premiership, London Irish, Luke Narraway

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 8:48 pm | Permalink | Comments

DANAHER CONFIDENT AHEAD OF TOP-OF-TABLE-CLASH

London Irish travel to second-placed Gloucester on Saturday for their
top-of-the-table clash, and flanker Declan Danaher is confident his team
can remain head of the Guinness Premiership going into the Six Nations.

The 29-year-old, currently Irish's longest-serving player, thinks that
Toby Booth's side have the momentum to inflict another victory on the
cherry and whites - even at their Kingsholm stronghold.

Five days before Christmas Irish smashed Gloucester 42-12 at the
Madejski, and they have racked up two big wins to secure a home tie in
the last eight of the European Challenge Cup while Gloucester were
bombed out of the Heineken Cup last Friday.

"It was mission accomplished in the European Challenge Cup - we were top
of the group, and that is what we wanted," said Danaher. "If we can play
well again on Saturday and convert the opportunities that we are given,
then we have a good chance of winning.

"They are a very proud team and they will be hurting after our defeat
earlier in the season. But Dean Ryan will have them fired up and
Kingsholm is a daunting place to play.

"It should be an explosive encounter. If we keep our game plan nice and
simple then hopefully we can get the win. If we can win it will make it
all that much more special."

Labels: Declan Danaher, Gloucester, Guinness Premiership, London Irish

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 8:36 pm | Permalink | Comments

IRISH INDISCIPLINE PUNISHED BY GLOUCESTER

Toby Booth believes that the citing officer will have a busy time looking at the tape of his London Irish team’s 23-21 loss to Gloucester. Irish squandered at 15-point lead in a bruising encounter at Kingsholm – and the cherry and whites leapfrogged Booth’s club to go top of the Guinness Premiership.

Irish raced to a 18-3 lead thanks to tries from wingers Adam Thompstone, who was making his debut, and Topsy Ojo, and the boot of Peter Hewat. But Irish’s indiscipline was penalised and Gloucester flyhalf Olly Barkley clipped over six kicks, while fullback Iain Balshaw crossed for winning try nine minutes from time.

While each team had one player sin-binned - Gloucester hooker and skipper Olivier Azam and Irish number eight Chris Hala'Ufia – Booth reckons there may be more punishment to be dished out. "I thought there were quite a few leading elbows from various aspects,” he said. "It will be a very interesting review for the citing commissioner.

"I knew we would have to be on the edge. Were we on the edge too much? I don't think we were, to be honest.

"We penalised ourselves out of the game. We didn't have any ball in the second-half, and the ball we did have we kicked poorly away. We stopped doing the things we had been doing well.

"If it turns out we've been penalised for the same thing two or three times, then we've been pretty dull.

"We knew it was a massive challenge. What I am pleased about is the physicality we showed to live with people on their own patch.

“Gloucester is not the easiest place to come, and I am pleased with our physicality to live with them - it is just disappointing we didn't turn pressure into points.”

Labels: Gloucester, Guinness Premiership, London Irish, Toby Booth

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STEFFON DETERMINED TO GIVE IT HIS ALL

While Steffon Armitage concedes that his inclusion at openside flanker for England’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Italy on Saturday is by virtue of injuries to others, he is certainly determined to make the most of his opportunity.

The 5’9” London Irish No7 may not have the traditional frame for an international backrower, or indeed the experience of the sidelined trio of Tom Rees, Lewis Moody and Michael Lipman.

But what he lacks in stature, he makes up for in dynamism and ubiquity, and has – in the eyes of punters and pundits alike – fully earned his first cap, following a number of scintillating displays for his club that has helped lift them to second in the Guinness Premiership.

Dismissed by Saracens in 2006 for being too small, Armitage was snapped up by Irish, where older brother Delon was already starring at full-back. Injuries, once more, played their part and when he eventually broke into the first team he vowed to give his all, so that he would be impossible to drop.

“I finally got my chance to play at Irish through injuries, and all the boys stuck with me,” says the 23-year-old. “And I didn’t want to let the guys down at all, so I gave it everything I had in every single game. I would go out there and give it 110 per cent, every single time. I can't sleep before any game because I get so nervous and go into it thinking it's my last one.

“I’ve also got my England chance through injury and I hope I can go out there and take my opportunities with both hands. I will be trying to do the things I have done over the years – driving and getting stuck in, giving the opposition a hard time.”

Perhaps Martin Johnson sees in Armitage something of his former Leicester Tigers, England and Lions team-mate, Neil Back, who was similarly pint-sized in comparison to most other international backrowers. Regardless of the thinking behind the decision, the Trinidad-born No7 admits that he was delighted to be told by one of his heroes that he would be playing for England, alongside his brother.

“My heart is still pumping having got the call,” he continues. “It really hasn't sunk in yet. Martin and I sat down after dinner on Monday and he said: ‘Steffon, I have been really impressed by you, and we are going to give you a start this weekend.’

“I stopped breathing for a second! And then he said: ‘We have picked you because you are one of the form players in the Premiership, and we have faith in you.’ And that is the bit that got me the most. It was coming from an absolute legend – Martin Johnson, a World Cup-winning captain. It was a bit emotional.”

When he runs out on to Twickeham with Delon, who made his international bow in the autumn and was named England’s player of the series, Steffon will become part of only nine brothers to have played together for the Red Rose.

“I'm pretty happy we're both in there and so proud of Delon for getting there before me,” he adds. “But I want to do my best in every game. I am going to go into Saturday’s game with the same mentality.”

BOX OUT

The Armitages are the first brothers to represent England on the same pitch since Rory and Tony Underwood in 1995. Reginald and Louis Birkett started the trend back in 1875.

Delon, 25, is delighted that his younger brother has been given the nod to play alongside him against Italy. “Playing on my own [for England] was brilliant,” he says, “but to have my brother there now, I'm speechless.

“If we get a chance to stand next to each other at the national anthem we probably will sing together and probably shed a couple of tears.

“I have tried to let Stef take all the England stuff in himself, like I got the chance to. The last thing you want is an older brother telling you what to do, what will happen. But I want him to learn it all on his own. Obviously I will be the elder brother and there if he needs any advice.

“He was disappointed not to get picked in the autumn and he worked on his fitness and played even better. He has worked really hard and I am glad he has the chance, like I did, to see if he is good enough to compete at international level. Hopefully he can improve even more and we can both keep our shirts now.”

Labels: Delon Armitage, Guinness Premiership, Italy, London Irish, Martin Johnson, RBS 6 Nations, Steffon Armitage

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WASPS HOPING NOT TO GET STUNG

London Wasps head to Castres next weekend hoping that Leinster, who they beat 19-12 at Twickenham on Saturday, slip up against Edinburgh, in order to qualify for the last eight of the Heineken Cup.

Though equal with Wasps on 16 points the Irish team will advance thanks to their 41-11 win over Wasps in October – but their losing bonus point could have been cancelled out had Wasps chosen to gamble for a try rather than let Dave Walder slot a penalty.

“There was a little bit of discussion – it’s one of those decisions,” said prop and captain Phil Vickery following the win in which Danny Cipriani also kicked 11 points and Serge Betsen crossed for a try. “Should you have gone for the corner or stuck it over, you could talk about it forever.

“You can go on about ifs and buts, but if we’d lost the ball we could easily have been talking about something different. I wouldn’t be surprised if Edinburgh beat Leinster. So we can’t worry about anyone else, it’s about what we do.”

Harlequins had their 100 per cent record halted by Ulster at Ravenhill. The Irish won 21-10, but Dean Richards’s team’s passage to the quarter-finals is assured.

Meanwhile, in the European Challenge Cup Saracens defeated Viadana 36-19 at Vicarage Road on Sunday to secure their advancement to the last eight. Similarly London Irish, for whom Peter Hewat scored five tries in a 75-5 win over Connacht, are also through.

Labels: Daniel Cipriani, Dean Richards, Edinburgh, Ian McGeechan, Leinster, London Harlequins, London Irish, London Wasps, Phil Vickery, Saracens, Serge Betsen

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 11:49 pm | Permalink | Comments

"UNSTOPPABLE" IRISH RELISHING GLOUCESTER CHALLENGE

London Irish, the Guinness Premiership’s table-toppers, are in confident mood and relishing the prospect of hosting second-placed Gloucester on Saturday at the Madejski Stadium – if only to prove to doubters that they belong top of the pile, and to prove to themselves that they can, this season, go on and add to their solitary title: the Powergen Cup in 2002.

After eight rounds Toby Booth, November’s coach of the month, and his London Irish team have accumulated 27 points and lead Gloucester on points difference alone – 63 to 54. And they have lost only twice – once at home to Bath, who are one point behind, and to Leicester Tigers 24-22 at Welford Road.

But it was September’s 20-16 defeat to Bath at the Madejski that really concerned backrower Richard Thorpe – as he thought it was unjust. Now, he believes, that their home ground is a “fortress” and that if his side swat aside Gloucester, “our momentum will go through the roof – I think we will be unstoppable”.

The 24-year-old continues: “We are treating this as one of the most important games London Irish have ever played and it would be a great early Christmas present if we were to win on Saturday.

“We rarely find ourselves at the top of the table – we were once, for one weekend, a few years ago. So now it all about cementing our place at the top and proving to the rest of the Guinness Premiership that yeah, we are worthy to be there and we are playing the best rugby in the league.

“We were very disappointed to lose that game at home against Bath but also quite surprised – we didn’t think we deserved to lose it. At the Madejski we think we are unstoppable – no one is going to break the fortress that we have built this season. It is definitely going to be an advantage to us playing at home against Gloucester.”

The former England age-group player and Whitgift School captain, alma mater also to Danny Cipriani and Oxford University’s varsity hat-trick hero Tim Catling, points to Booth’s foresight in tackling the Experimental Law Variations, claiming it is the key reason why Irish are taking the Premiership by storm.

Booth, who succeeded new England backs’ coach Brian Smith in the summer, spend much of the off-season studying how Southern Hemisphere teams, particularly in South Africa, had adapted to the new regulations.

“Then Toby brought back those ideas to our pre-season, it gave us a head start on the other teams and we have all adapted really well as a squad,” says Thorpe. “We are just thriving on it everyone in our team seems to have a good grasp on what the ELVs are all about.

“The structure that is servicing us well now was carried over from Brian last year. Toby has really grabbed the bull by the horns now and he is leading us forward with that. We have a good, young team who fully understand what we are trying to do.

“We are a couple of years in to this plan that Brian started and were unfortunate to lose him to England, but Toby is doing such a fantastic job.”

On Gloucester Thorpe adds: “Ryan Lamb is going to be a big focus – he is always very threatening in attack, and good with his interceptions. We will be targeting him and aiming our big carriers at him because he is a weak tackler.

“We will also have to watch out for the big, ol’ winger Lesley Vainikolo – we are very aware of what he can do. We will have to work hard to make sure we shut him down early.

“But we are not going to worry too much about them. It is more a question of whether Gloucester can stop us. We are going in to the game against Gloucester full of confidence and we have built up that momentum over the last couple of months.”

Labels: Gloucester, Guinness Premiership, Lesley Vainikolo, London Irish, Richard Thorpe, Ryan Lamb

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