Exiles On Course For Knock-out Double

23/04/02.London Irish go in search of the next leg of their potential knock-out double when they clash with Pontypridd in the Parker Pen Shield semi-finals in Oxford, on Saturday evening

And they will have some inside knowledge of their Welsh opponents. Steve Williams, the former Wales lock who helped London Irish to English Cup glory over Northampton Saints last Saturday, knows a thing or two about Pontypridd from his days as a Swansea, Neath and Cardiff player.
I might not know all the current Pontypridd players but I do know everything about the Pontypridd attitude – their pride in the jersey and playing for the club, said Williams.”
Not all clubs are lucky enough to have that element in their sides. It was a marvellous day at Twickenham but now we are focussed on Pontypridd. We are a performance-driven side and that is how the results tend to come, we treat every match with the same level of importance.”

“But of course it would be marvellous to reach a second cup final, especially as the winner of the Parker Pen Shield earns automatic qualification for the next Heineken Cup tournament.”
“The semi-finals is a big occasion, you don’t get many opportunities like that. It is not our style to under-estimate anyone and we will prepare in exactly the same way as we did last week for the Saints.

Sale Sharks meet Gloucester in the second semi-final, at Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, on Sunday, with Sale captain Bryan Redpath declaring: We are going to have to produce a huge performance, play to the top of our ability. It is going to be an extremely hard game and although they have not been playing that well lately we all know what Gloucester are capable of producing. They have beaten us twice this season and we appreciate their forward strengths.”
Sunday is going to be a massive occasion.