Leeds hope to heed lesson as they head for Italian job
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Leeds Carnegie will aim to keep their Amlin Challenge Cup campaign on track today – with a little help from English Championship club Moseley.
Leeds head to Italy for a Pool One appointment with Parma knowing victory would set up a winner-takes-all showdown against French challengers Bourgoin in Yorkshire a week tomorrow.
Bourgoin opened a five-point lead in the group by beating Bucuresti 33-15 on Thursday night, piling pressure back on Leeds to deliver a similar result at Stade XXV Aprile.
The Guinness Premiership club should encounter few problems against a side who have collected only four points in four Challenge Cup games this season.
But Leeds head coach Neil Back believes any hint of complacency can be removed by events at Twickenham nine months ago.
Leeds finished the 2008-09 National League One campaign 60 points and seven places above Moseley, yet they lost 23-18 to them in last season's EDF Energy National Trophy final.
Back said: ''We know Parma will be a totally different side to the team we played at Headingley Carnegie earlier in the season and we never underestimate any opposition.
''We learnt a hard lesson as a group in the trophy final last year when we played Moseley. It was a game we should have won by 50 points but we went there collectively with the wrong attitude and paid the price.''
Worcester, Challenge Cup finalists in 2008, are out of the running in Pool Two following back-to-back defeats against group leaders Connacht before Christmas.
But they should have little trouble against Sixways visitors Olympus Madrid, who have conceded 183 points in four games and scored only 41.
Wasps, meanwhile, will progress from Pool Four if Parisians Racing-Metro fail to collect a winning bonus point at Bayonne today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments