ZP Preview: Wasps v. Bristol

By Sparkie
September 6 2002

The Zurich Premiership makes its bow in High Wycombe on Sunday when Bristol come to town. Contepomi is expected to be back in harness which means Wasps are going to have to be extremely careful when throwing mispasses!

Bris need to be at full strength if last weekend's drubbing at home to Saracens is anything to go by. Sorries new standoff, Andy Goode, bagged 20 points in a 45-30 victory. By all accounts, the home defence was leakier than the DTI. Drahm will make way for Flippin' Contemptible as Bris rely on an Argentinian halfback pairing to try and spark some creativity.

Wasps squad has been hit by a virus and Craig Dowd looks likely to miss this game. Rob Howley, Kenny Logan and Jonny Barrett may recover in time. Better news is that Josh Lewsey is able to stand on both legs having recovered from a severe bruising and he could start. Just as well with Paul Sampson still recovering from a knock.

The match is being billed as the battle of two half[back]s and rightly so. Augustine Pichot plays a similar game to Howlers but he has a tendency to wilt under pressure - particularly his passing game. If our Black Fox can harry Pich then, indeed, half the battle is won. The other two "halves" of the battle Wasps must rectify are creating more scores from forward domination and tightening up our defence *legitimately* à la 1997 vintage.

It took Bris 17 attempts to beat us in league football. Until 1999-2000 it was pretty much one-way traffic, save for one draw and a few narrow scrapes. Bob "Barbed" Dwyer manufactured a double for Bris that season before promptly dumping them to return to his native New South Wales.

Our old boy, Dean Ryan, stepped up from "enforcer" to director in his wake. Despite maintaining a steady if somewhat lacklustre league position and even accounting for the ZP Champions Leicester in an unbalanced playoff QF, the behind the scenes squabbles eventually rocked the boat. He jumped ship in favour of joining our Mellie at Gloucester. It seems the Bris players had warmed to Peter Thorburn's All Black ethos instead of Deano's subtle pugnacity.

Conspiracy theorists among us may unravel the coming and goings between the "wes'v'inglun" clubs like this: Wor Jack Rowell suggests hiring Thorburn to ease Deano's job description and creating a line of succession. While a power struggle develops, Wor Jack arranges to absent himself back to his brown, brown pastures of old - but not before scorning Deano's supposedly hush-hush musings about furthering himself in the Shed. As it happens, our recently departed Chef d'équipe had tapped Deano on the shoulder - in reality, The Shed is leakier than Bristle's defence. Take heed, Mellie.

Reality bites on Sunday. Will the Shoguns that beat Connacht comfortably 33-24 in Galway turn up or will the Skodas stall in the Adams Park valley? Winger Jamie Williams may be the man to watch if he plays, along with Phil Christophers. Will 27-year-old All Black midfielder Daryl Gibson, late of Canterbury instill some backbone into the Bristol three quarters? And is Julian White dead glad he failed to win his release to Bath last season? Instead of languishing in a mire he at least gets the opportunity to play Heineken Cup football this term. Funny old game1

PD has supplied Wasps likely starting line-up, amended due to Dowdy's illness:

Mauler, Dome, Rev.Green, Shawsy, Birks, Worzle, Volls, LBND, Howlers, Kinga, Kenny, Denzil, Sonic Abbott, Shane Toothdoc., CO Josh (if not injured, or Rudd)

Further news on the offish site

Previous results from The Rugby Club

Wasps v. Bristol

 10 Feb 2002  34 - 16 Loftus Road
 21 Oct 2001  22 - 43 Memorial Stadium  
 11 Mar 2001  24 - 12 Memorial Stadium  
  3 Sep 2000  23 - 17 Loftus Road  
 19 Apr 2000  25 - 31 Loftus Road  
  1 Oct 1999  13 - 20 Memorial Stadium 
  1 Feb 1998  32 - 18 Loftus Road  
 30 Aug 1997  38 - 21 Memorial Stadium  
 11 Jan 1997  41 - 18 Memorial Stadium 
  7 Dec 1996  15 - 13 Loftus Road 
 11 Nov 1995  17 -  9 Memorial Stadium 
  9 Sep 1995  33 -  5 Sudbury 
 15 Apr 1995  27 - 15 Sudbury 
 22 Oct 1994  25 - 24 Memorial Stadium 
 19 Apr 1994  16 - 15 Memorial Stadium 
 20 Nov 1993  34 -  8 Sudbury 
 24 Apr 1993   7 -  6 Sudbury 
 25 Apr 1992  33 - 10 Memorial Stadium 
 27 Apr 1991  46 - 19 Sudbury
 31 Mar 1990  22 - 21 Memorial Stadium
  8 Apr 1989  21 - 19 Sudbury
 10 Oct 1987  12 - 12 Memorial Stadium

Related link: Bris preview

Transport news from Transport for London:

Weekend Travel Changes
UNDERGROUND TRAVEL CHANGES FOR SATURDAY 7TH AND SUNDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER.
On the METROPOLITAN LINE all weekend, no service between Baker Street and Aldgate
on the CIRCLE LINE, all weekend, no service between Baker Street and Farringdon
on the HAMMERSMITH & CITY LINE, all weekend, no service between Edgware Road and Whitechapel/Barking.
A limited bus will operate between Baker Street and Moorgate calling at all stations.
Due to the Circle Line works, the District Line will operate a revised service east of Earl's Court.
Journey times may be increased by up to 45 minutes.
On the METROPOLITAN AND PICCADILLY LINES:All weekend, no service between Uxbridge and Harrow-on-the-Hill/South Harrow.
Two replacement buses will operate as follows: Metropolitan Service: Harrow-on-the-Hill to Uxbridge calling at West Harrow, North Harrow, West Ruislip and all intermiediate stations.
Piccadilly Service:South Harrow to Rayners Lane calling at all stations.
Journey times may be increased by up to 30 minutes.
On SILVERLINK METRO, today, buses replace trains between Harrow & Wealdstone and Watford Junction.
Journey times may be increased by up to 60 minutes.
Sundays planned engineering work on the JUBILEE LINE between London Bridge and Stratford has been CANCELLED.

More travel information in The Waspie Welcome compiled by dixie.