ZP Preview: Bath v. Wasps
Iron fist
By Sparkie
September 13 2002
Wasps travel west to Bath in much better heart after our last gasp win over Bristol. Our hosts, on the other hand, will be glad to be back on home soil after two trips to London. The first was a stoppage time win at Irish but the latter was a very sorry affair at Saracens indeed.
The Bath team that finished a lowly eleventh last season is still performing in fits and starts despite turning Aussie behind the scenes. Mike Foley, the "Team Director" installed over Jon Callard's head has bedded down his battle-scarred squad over the summer and introduced Australian rugby sevens skipper Richard Graham as skills and defence coach.
To add balance to the backroom mix, Jack Rowell rejoined the club having righted Bristol. Whether he can do the same for Bath is moot, they have much to do to overcome even their neighbours. Bath's plan to build a £20m, 16,000 seater stadium is no nearer fruition - a deed of covenant prevents one sport taking primacy over all others on the site. Perhaps Bath's lack of form is a way to negate this clause!
Former club captain and USA Eagle, Dan Lyle, bore the brunt of the Bath supporters' criticisms towards the end of their downward spiral in May. After a summer of international football he has decided to stay on and fight for his place. One might well ask, "Did this put a spanner in Foley's midsummer machinations...?"
Certainly Mark Connors of Queensland Reds had lined up a two-year deal to join Bath as a lock-cum-back row utility player. However, with Lyle opting to see out his existing contract, Bath's accountant sounded the salary-cap bell and Connors move was cancelled. Connors, having all but severed his links with Queensland was not best pleased. He may yet sue Bath for breach of contract even though Northampton swiftly snapped him up shortly afterwards. Fortunately this turn of events won't come home to haunt Bath's light-weight pack when the two teams meet next weekend -- Connors won't be available until late October. Waspies might well recall his name -- Mellie tried to sign him last October but Queensland would not play ball. Clearly Bath has let a prize catch slip through their net.
With Bath scoring nary a try in 160 minutes of football this season (not to mention most of last season), recent returnee Rowell must hardly recognise the club he helped build in the eighties. Granted, Bath's injury woes have yet to be fully eased even though Mike Catt and Mike Tindall have all returned to the fray. Stand-in fullback and kicker Olly Barkley has recovered from a leg injury -- just as well with Matt Perry and Iain Balshaw both out until November.
Bath's failure to score tries indicates that their backline has yet to gel but, with only three tries against (by a rampaging Saracens team, Irish scored none), clearly their defence is still relatively tight. Wasps would do well to keep our kicking boots on and guard against their fleet-of-foot wingers. In Maggs absence, Tindall and Catt at centre are a tried and tested pairing. The weak point we must attack is the halfback duo of Gareth Cooper and new boy Chris Malone (from Exeter). Rob Howley, Alex King and Phil Greening at openside must be relishing getting amongst this pair while Bath's Welsh 7-8-9 contingent of doubting Thomases (Nathan and Gavin) and Cooper will give Howlers an equally warm welcome to the Avon valley. Howlers turned Bath down this summer in favour of us (the only sensible decision, of course, so did Stéphane Glas of France).
Up front for Bath, Franck Tournaire's non-arrival from Toulouse led to the signing of French compatriot Alessio Galasso from Montferrand. No doubt Galasso will bring the style of play that Wasps pack acquainted themselves with only a few weeks ago. The Bristol workout will also have served us well. Jonathan Humphreys against Trevor Leota should prove to be a lively and interesting match-up that will keep the officials busy...
...speaking of which...Bath's new captain, Danny Grewcock is in the dock next Tuesday. Shorn of his sidekick, Steve Borthwick, Andy Beattie (no relation, Sir Trev...) steps in. Curiously Bath's locks seem to have problems dominating matches despite their standing with England supremo, Clive Woodward -- but we know all about his blue-tinted specs! England A flanker Adam Vander is out with damaged ribs forcing Lyle to link up with the two doubting Thomases.
Wasps counter this with an enforced reshuffle of our own. Gats the enforcer has signalled an end to our profligate penalty gifts by the dropping of bearded wonder, Paul Volley, and Richard "Brikett" Birkett. Joe Beardshaw partners Simon Shaw in the battle of the locks whilst Phil Greening will multi-task at openside.
We trust Gats' stony gaze won't espy any unneccessary infractions in the back row this time. We need to play 15-man football for the full 80 minutes at Bath or we will throw the game away. Discipline is the watchword. Barely two years ago the headlines read, "Dallaglio wants tougher refs" (September 4, 2000 after Leicester had turned us over at the death).
Last week we won the battle of the half-backs but lost our way on penalties. If we can get the balance right between discipline and creativity, we should win. Kick-off is at 2pm to accommodate Sky TV - arrive early to see if Wasps can complete the rarest of feats - two wins on the trot at Bath - not in the script according to PD Barnes.
Wasps:
15 Josh Lewsey; 14 Shane Roiser, 13 Stuart Abbott, 12 Mark Denny, 11 Kenny Logan; 10 Alex King, 9 Rob Howley; 1 Craig Dowd, 2 Trevor Leota, 3 Darren Molloy, 4 Simon Shaw, 5 Joe Beardshaw, 6 Joe Worsley, 7 Phil Greening, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (capt.)
Replacements:
16 Ben Gotting, 17 Will Green, 18 Richard Birkett, 19 Paul Volley, 20 Harvey Biljon, 21 Will Wigram, 22 Paul Sampson.
Bath:
15 Olly Barkley; 14 Simon Danielli, 13 Mike Catt, 12 Mike Tindall, 11 Tom Voyce; 10 Chris Malone, 9 Gareth Cooper; 1 Dave Barnes, 2 Jonathan Humphreys, 3 Alessio Galasso, 4 Andy Beattie, 5 Danny Grewcock (capt.), 6 Gavin Thomas, 7 Dan Lyle, 8 Nathan Thomas
Replacements:
16 Ross Blake, 17 Lee Mears, 18 Simon Emms, 19 Alex Crockett, 20 John Mallett, 21 Rob Thirlby, 22 James Scaysbrook.
Previous results v. Bath (skating over three cup final defeats :( and the playoff, our record stands at an unhealthy Pl 24 W8 D1 L15)
12 May 2002 24 - 22 Recreation Ground 2 Dec 2001 23 - 10 Loftus Rd 6 May 2001 31 - 36 Loftus Rd (Play-off semifinal) 17 Mar 2001 13 - 16 Recreation Ground 27 Aug 2000 12 - 36 Loftus Rd 22 Jan 2000 16 - 27 Recreation Ground 5 Dec 1999 23 - 21 Loftus Rd 7 Feb 1999 35 - 0 Loftus Rd 5 Sep 1998 27 - 36 Recreation Ground 17 May 1998 17 - 31 Loftus Rd 14 Feb 1998 27 - 43 Recreation Ground 6 Apr 1997 25 - 25 Loftus Rd 14 Sep 1996 40 - 36 Recreation Ground 17 Feb 1996 12 - 36 Recreation Ground 7 Oct 1995 6 - 15 Sudbury 25 Mar 1995 11 - 10 Sudbury 8 Oct 1994 9 - 12 Recreation Ground 12 Mar 1994 8 - 24 Recreation Ground 9 Oct 1993 13 - 19 Sudbury 13 Mar 1993 11 - 22 Recreation Ground 14 Mar 1992 12 - 24 Subury 9 Mar 1991 16 - 15 Recreation Ground 25 Nov 1989 9 - 18 Sudbury 26 Nov 1988 6 - 16 Recreation Ground 14 Nov 1987 19 - 15 SudburyRelated links: London Wasps RFC | Bath ERE on Sportnetwork