Match preview Bristol Shoguns v London Wasps

home debut?
By David Hibell
April 19 2003

Bristol Shoguns welcome high flying London Wasps on Sunday for what could well be the last ever game of rugby played at the Memorial stadium. Just think about that for a minute. No more rugby. You don’t need me to tell you there is no excuse for not making this match.

Wasps are possibly the most appropriate team for us to play if that is the case given the large number of ex Bristol players that have gone on to play for Wasps recently and the starting XV named features two with one more on the bench, an ex Bristol university player and one that sounds like he should come from Bristol in the back row.

The Wasps line up showing two changes to the team that beat Bath in their last league outing a fortnight ago is

15 Mark Van Gisbergen

14 Josh Lewsey

13 Ayoola Erinie

12 Stuart Abbott

11John Rudd

10 Alex King

9 Rob Howley

1 Craig Dowd

2 Trevor Leota

3 Will Green

4 Simon Shaw

5 Richard Birkett

6 Joe Worsley

7 Paul Volley

8 Lawrence Dallaglio

reps; Martyn Wood, Phil Greening, Kenny Logan, Mark Denney, Mark Lock, Peter Scrivener & Alistair McKenzie

Bristol have named the same twenty three man squad that went to Northampton on Wednesday although it is likely to be a different starting XV as one or two players picked up knocks and Felipe could start as he has recovered from his ankle op.  If he does then Bristol supporters will be hoping he repeats his previous form against Wasps and he is the clubs top try scorer against them with three tries, all interceptions!

 

Wasps will be full of confidence as they are on an unbeaten run of five matches in the league and face a Bristol team that has taken just six league points from their last six matches, five of these coming in the last home match.

 

We need the crowd to get right behind the team Sunday, Bristol’s best half on Wednesday was when they were attacking the end that most of the loyal travelling supporters were at and there were quite a few comments floating around about how much noise was generated.  A return home in front of a vocal crowd could well inspire the lads to shake the defeat and the uncertainty off and reward the supporters with a victory that would be seen by most people as an upset. 

 

Recent meetings between the two clubs back this up as Wasps have won four of the last five league matches including the controversial defeat at Wasps new Adams Park ground, although Bristol have won three of the last two at home.

Previous Meetings

Date		Result (Bristol 1st)	Venue            

08 Sep 02		35 - 38		Adams Park       

10 Feb 02		16 - 34		Loftus Road      

21 Oct 01		43 - 22		Memorial Stadium 

11 Mar 01		12 - 24		Memorial Stadium 

03 Sep 00		17 - 23		Loftus Road      

19 Apr 00		31 - 25		Loftus Road      

01 Oct 99		20 - 13		Memorial Stadium 

01 Feb 98		18 - 32		Loftus Road      

30 Aug 97		21 - 38		Memorial Stadium 

11 Jan 97		18 - 41		Memorial Stadium 

Summary of meetings between the teams in the Premiership

Played			23

Bristol Shoguns Won		3	13.0%

London Wasps Won		19	82.6%

Drawn			1	4.3%

Biggest Win for Bristol Shoguns 43 - 22   21 Oct 01

Biggest Win for London Wasps  33 - 5     09 Sep 95

Bristol Shoguns top try scorer vs London Wasps	Felipe Contepomi	3 tries

Bristol Shoguns top points scorer vs London Wasps	Mark Tainton	78 points

London Wasps top try scorer vs Bristol Shoguns	Chris Oti		6 tries

London Wasps top points scorer vs Bristol Shoguns	Rob Andrew	80 points