NORTHAMPTON AND ENGLAND flanker Tom Wood is pulling out all the stops in an attempt to prove his fitness ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Cup final against Leinster in Cardiff.
The 24-year-old, who won the Aviva Premiership Player of the Year award this season, has been out of action since sustaining a hairline fracture in his right fibula during a league game against London Irish three weeks ago.
Such is his anxiety to be fit for Saturday’s match that Wood has recently been sleeping in an oxygen tent to accelerate the recovery process. While the fracture healed sufficiently to allow him to return to light training earlier this week, his fitness remains a massive doubt for the Saints.
“He’s now jogging around but whether it might be one week too early, we don’t know,” Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder told The Guardian.
Meanwhile, Wood’s team-mate for club and country, full-back Ben Foden, has spoken very highly of their opponents this weekend, highlighting in particular the quality which Leinster possess in the backs.
“Leinster have quality players across the entire side, and have great strength in depth,” said Foden, “but I guess their area around 10, 12 and 13 is certainly one of their greatest dangers.”
They also have a big and physical pack but the way our boys have been running lately, we hope that we can find some holes out wide.
Read more of Foden’s comments in today’s Irish Examiner | Read more on Wood’s progress in The Guardian
