ZP Preview: Blowers blow for Saints

An Iffy Cup
By Sparkie
January 31 2003

Northampton will come calling on Wasps without their whirlwind loosie, Andrew Blowers. He will be replaced by Grant Seely. Welsh lock Steve Williams and England hooker Steve Thompson bolster the pack in the place of Rob Hunter and Dan Richmond. Wasps will be without Josh Lewsey and Joe Beardshaw.

Following his resignation from the Scotland squad, no doubt Budge Pountney will look to grind his axe further on our back row. In the earlier fixture this season Saints' pack worked tirelessly to harry our 2nd phase ball and killed our lineouts. Even without Blowers, who has a stomach bug, we shall have our hands full but two excellent performance against Stade Français and a week of conditioning work might tip the balance our way this time round.

At half back we have two battle royals between Lions scrum halves, Howlers vs Daws; and between the current England 'A' flyhalf hopefuls, Kinga vs Larry (Grayson). As Mr. Oddshapedballs has outlined on the messageboard, Saints stuffed us so comprehensivley in midfield that we had lost the plot by the end of the first half. The result was two blood binnings in quick succession and a succession of kicks going straight into touch frpom fullback and stand-off. Straight running by Saints and penalty goals bagged by Larry enabled the home team to stretch themselves to a record winning margin despite a late interception try by Kenny.

The team has targeted home wins with maximum points. It will be a very difficult task to grab a four-try bonus from Saints, however. More often than not matches between Wasps and Northampton end up as dour, goal-kicking affairs. Wasps are aided by fielding an unchanged team and we welcome back our top scorer, Josh Lewsey, to the bench after a hamstring injury. The teams are evenly matched with well over 20 internationals or ex-international on show. If Wasps do have an edge, it is strength in depth. It should be enough to give both Alex King and Trevor Leota reason to celebrate their 100th Premiership appearances in a Wasps shirt.

Wasps: 15 M.Van Gisbergen; 14 J.Rudd, 13 F.Waters, 12 S.Abbott, 11 K.Logan; 10 A.King, 9 R.Howley; 1 C.Dowd, 2 T.Leota, 3 W.Green, 4 S.Shaw, 5 R.Birkett, 6 J.Worsley, 7 P.Volley, 8 L.Dallaglio (Capt.)

Bench: 16 M.Wood, 17 P.Greening, 18 J.Lewsey, 19 M.Denney or A.Erinle, 20 M.Lock, 21 P.Scrivener, 22 A.Kershaw.

Northampton: 15 N.Beal; 14 B.Reihana, 13 P.Jorgensen, 12 J.Leslie (capt), 11 B.Cohen; 10 P.Grayson, 9 M.Dawson; 1 T.Smith, 2 S.Thompson, 3 M.Stewart, 4 M.Lord, 5 S.Williams, 6 G.Seely, 7 B.Pountney, 8 M.Connors.

Bench: 16 D.Richmond, 17 C.Budgen, 18 R.Hunter, 19 M.Soden, 20 I.Vass, 21 J.Brooks, 22 M.Tucker.

P.S. One of those Huwee moments:

Perhaps Wasps should take heart from our past home record against Saints, aside from 1999 and a 21-all draw in 1991 that is. Looking back all the way to 1993, how many of us remember that nailbiting win at Sudbury? Old Huw Davies had already scored a well-worked try and was pitted against the great England hope, Ian Hunter? The two fullbacks went head-to-head during a hell-for-leather dash after Saints countered with a hack through. Davies had just enough gas left in those ageing legs of his to ease past Hunter, saving what looked like a certain try. After the 60-yard dash the 34 year-old Huwee could have done with some oxygen, or a snifter of "widow", whilst Hunter never quite recovered and had to retire - wasn't it always thus with him? Also gracing the field that day were Tim Rodber, Buck Shelford, Martin Bayfield and a young Nick Beal. Wasps sported Squeaky and Buster among others. It isn't always a drab affair between the two "iffy" teams, fists flew regularly early on.

On that day: SCORERS: Wasps: Try: Davies. Dropped goal: Andrew. Penalty goals: Andrew (4). Northampton: Tries: MacNaughton, Ward. Conversion: Beal.

WASPS: H Davies; P Hopley, F Clough, G Childs, C Oti; R Andrew, S Bates; G Holmes, K Dunn, J Probyn, F Emeruwa, R Kinsey, D Ryan, M White, M Greenwood. NORTHAMPTON: I Hunter (rep: B Ward); N Beal, F Packman, R MacNaughton, H Thorneycroft; J Steele, M Dawson; G Baldwin, J Olver, G Pearce, P Walton, J Etheridge, M Bayfield, T Rodber, W Shelford.

Referee: J Pearson (Durham).

Previous Meetings - Wasps vs Northampton (Pl.20 W11 D1 L8)

  5 Oct 2002   20-34  @  Franklin's Gardens
  4 May 2002   17- 6  @  Loftus Road
  8 Dec 2001   10-23  @  Franklin's Gardens
 30 Dec 2000   21-18  @  Franklin's Gardens
  1 Oct 2000   53-17  @  Loftus Road        
  9 May 2000   54-12  @  Franklin's Gardens 
 29 Dec 1999   15-21  @  Loftus Road        
 13 Apr 1999   15-24  @  Loftus Road        
  7 Nov 1998   21-26  @  Franklin's Gardens 
 26 Apr 1998   31-15  @  Loftus Road
 27 Dec 1997   10-18  @  Franklin's Gardens
 26 Apr 1997   26-15  @  Franklin's Gardens
 28 Dec 1996   18-13  @  Loftus Road
 22 Apr 1995   13-19  @  Franklin's Gardens
 29 Oct 1994   27-21  @  Sudbury
 23 Apr 1994   24-11  @  Sudbury
  4 Dec 1993   17-15  @  Franklin's Gardens
 27 Mar 1993   20-12  @  Sudbury
 28 Mar 1992   15-28  @  Franklin's Gardens
 23 Mar 1991   21-21  @  Sudbury