Blackadder’s Euro premonition comes true

TODD Blackadder was a relieved man after the game having secured a Champions Cup spot on the final day of the season.

“I just had a feeling we would make the top six,” he said. “We never lost hope and never stopped chasing the perfect performance.

“This season has been fantastic in that I have learned a lot about myself and the team. We started the season really well, but then we picked up a lot of injuries. That had a major impact on our season.

“We have got some quality players coming through, but we need our best players fit more often next season. It looks as though a number of our star names won’t be touring this summer, so that will give them the chance to rest – we all know we will have to do better next season.”

As for London Irish head coach Declan Kidney, it is back to the drawing board in the Championship next season. He said: “The planning started for next season last week and that is why we picked an experimental side to go to Bath.

“We could have picked a much different team, but we wanted to give some players a taste of Premiership rugby. They didn’t give in, but I’ve known that from the day I joined the club.

“There are things that are within our control that we need to improve. Next season is going to be difficult, we have to earn the right to return to the Premiership, but we’ve got some people at the club who know all about what it takes to do that.”