HEC preview: Wasps hope for 2004 Premier Cru

Entente Cordiale
By Vespasian
January 20 2007

London Wasps go into round 6 knowing that a win is really the only safe way to approach gaining qualification from pool 1 of the Heineken Cup. The three way shoot out for the top spot has resolved itself into a winner takes all encounter: Castres v. Wasps, 1.30 GMT on Saturday.

 

Wasps have shown glimpses of the form that got them through to the Heineken Cup final in 2004 but consistency has eluded us on the road. Castres are going well in the French championship and are slight favourites for a win. Whichever team goes through depends on whose risk taking is rewarded. Does Castres suffer from stage fright? Not often. Unlike Perpignan in 2004, they do not need a bonus point win -- unless Wasps hold them to a narrow deficit...

If neither teams gets on top, Wasps need to remain better than six points in arrears to go through. A win on French soil would have seemed unlikely only a month ago, but there are signs that the team ethos of the Gatland years has been rekindled of late. A Wasp win or a draw will put us through, but probably not with a home tie. Now is the time to stand tall away from home.

Paul Sackey is out with a medium-grade knee injury, so Fraser Water comes back and Josh Lewsey moves out to the wing. Danny Cipriani and Dominic Waldouck keep their places and enter the Castres chaudron. Well come lads!

London Wasps: 15 Danny Cipriani; 14 Josh Lewsey, 13 Fraser Waters, 12 Dominic Waldouck, 11 Tom Voyce; 10 Alex King, 9 Eoin Reddan; 1 Tim Payne, 2 Raphael Ibanez, 3 Phil Vickery, 4 Simon Shaw, 5 Tom Palmer, 6 Joe Worsley, 7 Tom Rees, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (Capt.)

Bench: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Peter Bracken, 18 James Haskell, 19 Martin Purdy, 20 Simon Amor, 21 Mark Van Gisbergen, 22 Dan Leo