Dean Richards' Dossier (6)

The teams involved are battling on two fronts. They have to get the balance right - it's obviously hugely important for them to win the Heineken Cup, but it's also vital for them to do well in their domestic competitions and neither Toulouse nor London Wasps have secured their place in the Cup next year.

There are two schools of thought with regard to playing such huge matches so close to the Cup final. Some people advocate having a week away at a special training camp where players can focus fully on the task ahead. Others say that playing important games gets players used to the intensity of matches, and it teaches them what is required to win on the day.

I fall into the latter category. I advocate playing intense matches in the run-up to the Heineken Cup final. The worry is that you pick up injuries along the way, and indeed that is what has happened to London Wasps with the loss of Craig Dowd, who will be difficult to replace.

From Wasps' perspective, Warren Gatland has to decide whether or not to bring back Simon Shaw and Joe Worsley, both players who have been nursing injuries. Wasps lost heavily last weekend to Leicester Tigers, and that could rock their confidence.

As a coach you have to be very sensitive when dealing with the players in the two weeks preceding the Heineken Cup final. Players can get tetchy and nervous with all the added pressure that is on them.

You can't have the guys over-focused and over-trained, and at the same time they can't be too relaxed. It's a difficult juggling act. A coach will look to do different things, such as bringing in motivational speakers, sports psychologists, or stepping up the training. But in the week of the final, I think it is important to make things as normal as possible so the players can relax.

I have been involved in three Heineken Cup finals, once as a player and two as a coach. When I played for Leicester against Brive we trained like dogs in the week of the final. I wouldn't like to say that was the only reason we lost, but we weren't fresh and that is why I advocate that players have to be rested so they can focus and be fresh for the match.

Look at boxers. Boxers train very lightly the week before a fight, and I think the same principle should be applied for a major final such as this.

As a coach it is a strategy I adopted against Stade Francais and Munster. They were probably the two lightest training weeks we had all season, some of the boys wanted to train a little more, but we as coaches felt that we had done enough preparation throughout the course of the season.

You can see the atmosphere in the camp building and building from the time you win your semi-final.

As the realisation that this is the week of the final comes, there will be differences in the camps. London Wasps have never been here before, and I should imagine there would be nerves among the players. Toulouse have been here before and should be a little more relaxed, but at the same time there is plenty of competition for places and there will be an edge in training.

Bringing in motivational speakers is a good way of both relaxing the players and helping them to get a sense of perspective. It helps takes players' minds off the forthcoming game, as sometimes the intensity and pressure can be overwhelming. I brought in a man called Chris Moon who had been captured by the Khmer Rouge and had a tremendous tale to tell. I also brought in a world champion skydiver.

From a player's perspective it is vital they try to enjoy the week, however difficult that may be.

You find that tensions are high, and it can get a little bit fractious in training as players vie for a position in the starting XV. On occasions at Leicester there were physical fights on the training park, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It shows players care and mean business, and after all, rugby is a physical sport played by intense guys.

I would expect that both Gatland and Guy Noves have in their minds, selected 80 per cent of the starting lineup some time before the final, and I think the players understand that fact.

In the case of Toulouse, Noves will have to make decisions such as the role the Maka brothers will play, and how Christian Labit will fit in. For Wasps, there will be questions about Worsley's role, but these types of decisions are usually left until about two or three days before the final itself.

Often you find that coaches play at bit of cat-and-mouse with their selections, because any type of competitive edge you get over your opposite number could be crucial in the final reckoning.

If that means a coach picks a player to counteract someone who the rival coach has said will play (but knows won't) that can be a huge advantage to you.

Coaches often hold on as long as possible to announce their starting lineups. Times have changed a little bit and I feel it is reasonable to expect a coach to reveal his XV the day before the match.

The choice of the referee can be crucial. When I look back at the 2001 final, Dave McHugh was selected. He had sin-binned Martin Johnson more times than any over ref, and sure enough, he did again in the final. And the style of a referee can be crucial as well. I am sure that both Gatland and Noves will be coaching their players in a certain way now they know Alain Rolland is in charge. But I hope his influence isn't too great.