Limerick Rugby - Garryowen need to beat leaders

Colm Kinsella previews Garryowen’s massive AIL game against leaders Garryowen this Saturday.

GARRYOWEN head coach Tom Tierney admits his side will be under ‘serious pressure’ in their remaining Ulster Bank All-Ireland League Division 1A fixtures, should they suffer defeat at the hands of table toppers Lansdowne in their top-of-the-table clash on Saturday.

Second-placed Garryowen trail Lansdowne by seven points ahead of their return fixture at the Aviva Stadium’s back pitch this weekend.

The ‘light blues’ will be looking to avenge the 23-0 drubbing they suffered at the hands of Lansdowne in Dooradoyle last month when the clubs renew rivalry this weekend.

While Tierney is adamant that the game is not ‘must win’, he admits the ‘light blues’ will be facing an uphill back to reel Lansdowne back in over the remaining third of the season if they suffer a second defeat to Mike Ruddock’s side this season.

Former Irish scrum-half Tom Tierney said: “I honestly believe it is still too early to say it is a must-win game. Because all the teams in 1A are fighting for something - even those in mid-table are not sure about being safe from relegation - it is very competitive and teams will drop points.

“Having said that we will be under serious pressure if we go 11 points behind Lansdowne It would be a huge gap to bridge.

“You need other teams to do you favour as well as needing to win your own games.

“It is the first time this season we have been in a situation like this where we have lost two games on the bounce. Before Christmas we won seven of our eight fixtures and we have now lost our last two.

“In the home game with Lansdowne we were beaten by a better team on the day. The scoreline showed that. Against Cork Con the last day out, we conceded too many penalties and they punished us.”

Head coach Tierney is awaiting confirmation on whether Munster squad members Barry O’Mahony and Sean Scanlon will be available for selection for Saturday’s game which will be played on a 3G, all-weather, pitch at Lansdowne Road.

Flanker O’Mahony and full-back Scanlon returned to training this week having recovered from injury.

Garryowen have been training on their own all-weather pitch in Dooradoyle in the lead-up to Saturday game.

“The speed of the game goes up one or two notches when you play on the 3G surface,” Tom Tierney said.

“Defences come up at you more quickly because the line speed increases.

“Saturday’s game is going to be a huge test for us. Lansdowne are favourites to win the League, but they are not unbeatable.

“We have put in a lot of work over the past few weeks. Lansdowne beat us well at Dooradoyle last month. We have spoken about that performance. We didn’t perform on the day. That can happen over the course of a season. We are looking to bounce back this weekend.”

Garryowen must plan without their exciting young out-half Jamie Gavin for Saturday’s trip to Dublin. Gavin has been struggling with a quad muscle strain on his kicking leg in recent weeks.

In his absence, Garryowen look set to start their Connacht-contracted utility back Matt Jarvis at fly-half.