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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Michael Scully

Tadhg Furlong planning Alan Shearer inspired celebration if Leinster win Champions Cup

If Leinster win tomorrow, perhaps Tadhg Furlong will break out the one arm salute that was Alan Shearer's trademark at St James' Park.

"St James’ Park is a pretty iconic place," said the 26-year-old.

"I grew up watching Match of the Day and seeing Alan Shearer score a load of goals there and putting the hand up and running around.

"I can’t wait to experience playing a game there.”

Of course it isn't Leinster's first time to play a European final on a football pitch - they did so last year at Athletic Bilbao's San Mames ground.

But this will be Leinster's toughest game of the season. If they prevail, they will become the first club side in Europe to win the Champions Cup on five occasions - and will go back to back in the process.

Furlong is aware of how difficult a task that will be against the 2016 and '17 champions.

"I can definitely understand some of the points that teams make about trying to back things up," said Furlong.

"Here, the group is so competitive and it’s such a good place to work that you want to do well and you want to push on.

"We’ve learned lessons in Europe this year. We lost against Toulouse away.

"The Toulouse game was like a Test, bloody tough and you had to work hard to nullify some of their threats. When you get to the business end of a competition like this it is like international rugby.

"What's the difference between club and international rugby? Sometimes when you are playing for your club, there tends to be a few more scrums and mauls, it can be that little bit tighter.

"International rugby drains that physical energy from you a bit more - it's a lot quicker, tougher on the lungs and the legs.

"When you look art the two teams it will be up there with international standard rugby with the number of Test players there.

"It is challenging, but we’re back in the final now and we want to put in a good performance".

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