Sky Sports.com

Corry: good finish for Leicester

Richard Cockerill will be feeling either very embarrassed or the best motivator in the land having said it would be better for Leicester to miss out on the play offs rather than be humiliated.

Stuart Barnes
Quotes of the week

Also see

• Sky Sports experts
• Rugby on Sky
• Live scores

What a finale to a fantastic Premiership season.

It may have started on slow burner during the World Cup but it has swelled to an incredible crescendo with a West Country derby of withering intensity at Gloucester, a flip flopping thriller at Welford Road and a performance of great integrity by London Irish to cost Sale a play off place.

The England 32 to New Zealand is announced this week but such is the excitement being generated by the club game that Martin Johnson's first announcement is very much on hold - in my mind at least.

Johnson should pick a team to win, regardless of age because a Test win in New Zealand ensures the future looks after itself.

That's for then, this is for now... and the immediate present is Premiership with the play offs on the horizon. Richard Cockerill will be feeling either very embarrassed or the best motivator in the land having said it would be better for Leicester to miss out on the play offs rather than be humiliated.

If Gloucester crush them he will be proved prescient, if ill advised, if Leicester win, well it will horrify Gloucester's grand fans who feel that a third regular top spot in three years deserves the trophy at the end of the season.

Alas, this world is not run on the basis of justice but if Gloucester are the best they will do it. Having said that, away wins at Wasps and a rearguard win against Bath will have raised their occasionally dubious self belief.

It will probably be a physically quiet week after a derby of serious intensity, but the Tigers, slipping through on the rails will be a threat. I take Gloucester to revenge themselves on Leicester for last season's humiliation.

In the first semi final, Wasps have the capacity to score plenty but must eliminate their unwelcome new defensive frailties against a Bath team that were again, superb for forty minutes against Gloucester.

However, the loss to injuries of Matt Stevens and Lee Mears shattered their game plan; if both recover, this is too tight to call, if neither play the balance swings towards the Wasps.

A possible repeat of last season's Heineken Cup final, a West Country derby, Bath and Leicester or Gloucester going for three straight wins this season against Wasps are the scintillating scenarios for the final.

I am bashing my keyboard in anticipation even as I type. What a finale with the small matter of the Heineken Cup between the play off and final.

On that subject, read the final question this week; it is a cracker.

Email Stuart here

UNDER THE POSTS
STUART BARNES ANSWERS YOUR EMAIL...

WOOD ENOUGH?
Hi Stuart. What more does Nick Wood have to do to get national recognition do you think? Mark from Stroud

STUART REPLIES: Mark, keep on keep on, as Bob Dylan sang many a moon ago. England are well catered for with Matt Stevens on the tight and Andrew Sheridan on the loose head but Wood's excellence around the park, especially in defence where he adds a fourth back rower to a team, makes him a likely pick ahead of Tim Payne for New Zealand. If Martin Johnson ignores his claim as a test back up he will have a right to feel peeved.

CRACKS IN THE ALL-BLACKS?
Hi Stuart, With the upcoming tour to NZ by England, it raises the question... do you think the All Blacks are likely to lose this year (to either Ireland, England or the tri-nations teams)? Or will they keep their five-year unbeaten home record? NZ are likely to be a pale shadow of last year's team... or do you think the young guns they choose to replace the experienced players that have left will again keep the All Blacks unbeaten at home? Bearing in mind that even the world champion Springboks haven't won in NZ since 1998! Are you willing to stick your neck out and say they will be beaten this year? If so... by whom? Cheers, Nick Owens, Leeds, West Yorkshire

STUART REPLIES: Nick. I watch the contenders for the All Blacks play week in and out during the Super 14 and I just do not see the strength in depth of the recent past. Is there a star second five eighth to play alongside Dan Carter? Is there a ready-made replacement for either Carl Hayman or Chris Jack? Add the difficulty of switching laws from the limited ELV selection to the pre ELV laws and you wonder if the All Blacks will be vulnerable early on this international summer (in our Hemisphere). Ireland will be dismissed but could easily scare them first up whilst I honestly think England will win one of these Tests. In the Tri Nations, Australia probably have a better chance than the Springboks this year...will they remain unbeaten in New Zealand? NO.

REF JUSTICE
Hello there, I am very surprised to see that Nigel Owens has been selected to referee the final. I am sure you are aware of this but Mr Owens has refereed (among others I presume) the following matches in the HEC this year:

Round 6 pool stage: Munster v Wasps

Quarter Final: Gloucester v Munster

Semi Final: Saracens v Munster

It is fairly shocking that the same referee should take control of the same team twice in the tournament. Twice in the knockout stages is fairly remarkable. Four matches in succession simply is beyond belief. How can the ERC justify this? Now I'm not saying anything about Mr Owens specifically here but over the matches that Munster have now played with him an undeniable rapport will have built up between official and players. This is a rapport denied Toulouse. Munster will have 3 tapes from which they can see how Mr Owens has taken control of their games and will be able to seize on any weaknesses or areas where they can see an advantage to them. Once again such intimate knowledge of the referee is denied to Toulouse. Nigel Owens, fine referee that he is, should not take control of the HEC final. It is an appointment too far. What do you think? Regards, David.

STUART REPLIES: David, I think this is one of the most perceptive questions we have ever had on this board....I think Nigel Owens is an excellent referee but your point is irrefutable. Clearly the venue has played a part in the decision although I don't think a Welsh referee in Cardiff is anything but symbolic. That is a bloody good point and one, I shall raise in the preview to the Heineken Cup final. The ERC has made quite some blunder and Guy Noves - if he yet realises it - has a right to feel somewhat miffed...great point.

Thanks to all again for the e mails this week,

Stuart Barnes

Email Stuart here