Amlin Preview: London Wasps v Bayonne

London Wasps face the sternest home test in their Amlin pool as Bayonne come calling. Will the French travel well on the back of their strong victory over Grenoble? Will Wasps suffer any malaise after their record 17-90 win at Viadana? 

It might have been seen as a positive move when the organisers changed the format of the Amlin Cup to bring in the strongest Heineken also-rans at the knock-out stages. Others will point to Wasps drubbing of Viadana and wonder if there is merit in this competition at all.

In truth, the second tier European competition has always been a bit of an afterthought, Something for teams who didn't qualify for the main event to aim at instead of kicking their heels. Adding in the three (worst) Heineken pool runners up made commercial sense.

It even makes sense for teams like Wasps to blood their squad members against weaker teams like Viadana to build squad morale, give everyone some game time (or a rest) and blow off the cobwebs. For Viadana it serves to broaden and develop their players horizons. It might even be a recruiting sergeant - witness Jonny O'Connor's move from Connacht to Wasps, or Fraser Waters move from Wasps to Benetton Treviso.

And it proved to be a useful filip for Wasps 2002/03 campaign. So what will happen next season? The European format does need a good spring clean. Perhaps the Amlin will become a much more second tier tournament, and the main event will be enlarged, or a new middle tier event will slot in.

So, this could be the last Amlin Cup. Wasps had better win it, then! As for tonight, nothing less than a ten point win will do.