Former Irish international Conor O'Shea has played down the prospect of a London Irish home draw in this season's Powergen Cup semi-finals. The Exiles booked their place in the last four after a comfortable 25-10 victory over Gloucester yesterday, and will now return to their Madejski Stadium home in Reading on March 9.
The Rugby Football Union have already announced that both semi-finals will be played back-to-back in Reading, although Irish's fellow Cup survivors Harlequins, Northampton and Newcastle might not feel quite as pleased. However, O'Shea, director of rugby at London Irish, played down suggestions that playing at home will give them an unfair advantage. He revealed: "I don't think that it will make a massive difference. Tickets will be allocated evenly to all four clubs, and hopefully it will be a real carnival occasion with all sets of supporters mingling together."
Irish cruised into the semi-finals courtesy of another superb kicking display by their fly-half Barry Everitt and a pack that dominated Gloucester in every department.
Filed by Shane Murray
