Hugh Farrelly previews the Heineken Cup final, where Leinster will be guarding against a bite from the underdogs, in The Irish Independent.
"It's all set up for a mugging. Northampton slip into Cardiff later this week as unfashionable underdogs, portrayed as a hard-working side with a dash of flair pitted against a superior force with stars in every position -- an easy psychological trigger for coach Jim Mallinder to press.
"Then there is the Romain Poite factor. It is hard to think of another referee better suited to Northampton's style of play, and the Saints will be delighted if the game breaks up into a pernickety procession of penalties, hindering Leinster's ability to find their flow.
"Without the squad resources of their opponents, Northampton are pretty battered after the long season, but that was the case in 2000 also, when they still found the energy to puncture Munster's European dream with a similarly-styled side based around forward muscle."
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