London Wasps v Saracens preview

By Jason Harris
September 20 2002

The original, real, genuine, often imitated Men in Black don the white this weekend to take on a bunch of refugee upstarts from Wycombe.

OK, ribbing about who has any moral high ground about using the title and theme from the 1997 movie starring Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and a talking pug is beside the point. The serious business starts at 3pm on Sunday at Adams Park.

Earlier in the week I looked through the results between Wasps and Saracens in recent years and the old enemy certainly have the upper hand over Sarries.

So much so, that Saracens' biggest win over Wasps (excluding the 1998 Cup Final) was by just six points, while the free-scoring insects have handed out qute a few drubbings.

Last season, the corresponding fixture at Loftus Road was one of the best cures for insomnia I have ever encountered. A solitary Richard Hill try saving the face of a game that should have had the 6,000 crowd demanding refunds.

Hopefully this year the fare on offer in High Wycombe will be more palatable. Both sides are scratching their heads after insipid second half preformances against Bath; Sarries failing to capitalise on a 14 man opposition and missing out on a bonus point, Wasps nearly throwing away a 24-9 lead and - thanks to a last-gasp drop goal from Alex King - scraping a 27-27 draw down at the Rec.

Warren Gatland has shuffled the side that threw away two points last weekend. Paul Sampson returns to fullback and Josh Lewsey moves from there to the wing. Kenny Logan is on the other flank. Denney and Abbott continue in the middle of the backs and King keeps his no10 shirt.

Unfortunately, one of the most eagerly-awaited duels will not happen from the off. The battle of the scrum halves (and lineout jumpers) Rob Howley and Kyran Bracken will have to wait as the Wasps man is on the bench after dislocating a finger in the Bath game. The Sarries skipper will have to pit his wits against Martyn Wood, at least for some of the match.

Sarries coach Buch Shelford has reverted to what should become his first-choice line-up after last weekend's drubbing at London Irish. Thomas Castaignede comes in for Adey Winnan at the back. Darragh O'Mahony, rested last week, returns on the left wing with Tom Shanklin moving from there to the right. Richard Haughton makes way.

Like Wasps, the centre pairing will be the same - Ben Johnston and Kevin Sorrell - and there is one change in the half backs. Andy Goode will be back in the no10 shirt as Niki Little drops to the bench.

The forward battle will be won and lost in the front row. Of the five specialist front rowers in the Sarries squad, there are three hookers. Joe Ross starts in the 2 shirt, but could well see action at prop before the end of proceedings if either of Johnny Marsters or the returning David Flatman have to leave the fray. Former All-Black Craig Dowd, England enigma Phil Greening and veteran Will Green will provide a stern test for the Sarries big men.

Stuart Hooper and Craig Yandell are back in tandem in the second row and with just one lost lineout in the two opening games while these two were playing, it is hoped that the quality possession so missed at London Irish will return. Simon Shaw and Richard Birkett provide the opposition here.

Finally, the Back rows contain lots of power and quality. It goes without saying that Richard Hill and Lawrence Dallaglio are both world class players. But the supporing cast of Worsley and Volley for the Wasps, Chesney and Russell for Sarries will add their weight and mobility to the contest.

Wasps are currently in a disciplinary crisis. Penalised into losing the game on the opening day at Newcastle, they will be looking to cut back on the infringements and deny Andy Goode the opportunity to put points on the board for Sarries.

By contrast, Saracens seem to have the discipline, but have lost the cutting edge they had at Bristol and in the first half against Bath.

It'll be a fascinating contest in front of a packed Adams Park. Who'll win will be very difficult to call. I'd very much like to think it will be Saracens, but their recent record against Wasps (no win since 1999) and playing away from home should just tip the balance towards the home side.

Saracens:
Castaignede; Shanklin, Johnston, Sorrell, O'Mahony; Goode, Bracken (c); Flatman, Ross, Marsters; Yandell, Hooper; Chesney, Hill, Russell.

Replacements: Cairns, Parkes, Benazzi, Peacey, Williams, Little, Winnan.

Wasps:
Sampson; Lewsey, Denney, Abbott, Logan; King, Wood; Dowd, Greening, Green; Shaw, Birkett; Worsley, Volley, Dallaglio.


Replacements

Howley, Gisbergen, Rudd, Gotting, Beardshaw, McCarthy, Molloy