Rugby Union: Venter adds key piece to Exiles' jigsaw

ANY CLUB that fancies its chances against London Irish has just 10 more days in which to attempt it, after that they will have to think again because the last four pieces of the Exiles' jigsaw puzzle slot into place at Sunbury-on-Thames at the beginning of next month.

But even without Kevin Putt, Steve Bachop, Jarrod Cuningham and Ryan Strudwick, a formidable southern hemisphere quartet, Irish have been giving a good account of themselves.

Leicester Tigers were sent away with tails between legs in a cracking midweek match, Newcastle were turned over at home last month and a fistful of so-called title contenders have finished Allied Dunbar Premiership One matches with the Irish in close pursuit. Today it is the turn of Northampton, and without captain Tim Rodber, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury, they could find the lively Exiles far too committed to be contained.

One of the key factors in these all-action London Irish encounters has been the presence of the former Springbok centre Brendan Venter. The Exiles' usually sulphuric director of rugby, Dick Best, was moved to say: "He is the biggest influence on this team, or any team I have ever been in charge of."

Venter, a qualified general practitioner and anaesthetist back in South Africa, said: "I had been playing for a very good team, Orange Free State, but I quickly realised that London Irish had a lot of high quality players such as Conor O'Shea, Mark McCall, and Justin Bishop. And this squad has a work ethic. The work-rate is unbelievably high."

That will be in evidence today as Irish field an unchanged side from that which mauled the Tigers, although the Welford Road side is not so fortunate. Their own inside centre Pat Howard suffered a fractured jaw in the midweek clash and will be out for up to six weeks. His partner in midfield, Will Greenwood, is also a non-starter at home to Richmond because of an ankle injury.

Yet another centre, Stuart Potter, has a neck injury and to the list is added the full-back Tim Stimpson (shoulder) and the lock Fritz Van Heerden (toe). Things were looking so bad that the coach, John Wells, sounding part joking, part wistful, said: "You never know, Dean [Richards, Leicester manager] and I might play."

Richmond, who have won their last two away games in the Premiership, have not named a team but Scott Quinnell, sent off at Wasps on Sunday, is included in the squad. Another dismissed player, Victor Ubogu, sent off in the Anglo-Welsh friendly at Cardiff on Tuesday, is in the Bath team to face Sale, who were yesterday reported to be in negotiations to sign Gloucester's transfer-listed England hooker Phil Greening.

One confrontation that is in doubt is at Bedford where Rory Underwood is on the bench for the meeting with Newcastle, his place on the right wing going to Ben Whetstone. It means Rory may miss running up against younger brother Tony, who is on the Falcons' left wing.

Second-placed Saracens restore Richard Hill to the back row, and Gavin Johnson returns at full-back with Matt Singer moving out to the right wing for the visit of Wasps tomorrow. In the day's other match, Gloucester give Premiership debuts to two former Newbury players, right wing Rory Greenslade-Jones and flanker Andy Dawling, against London Scottish.