ZP Preview: 3rd v. 11th -- it's all down to luck
Time to rumble
By Sparkie
April 4 2003
Eleventh-placed Bath visit Adams Park buoyed by their having beaten Wasps away in the Powergen Cup in December. No doubt Warren Gatland's men will use that ghastly defeat to good effect as Wasps seek to finish in the top three at the business end of the season.
Bath's 5-2-11 record is as poor as last season's brush with relegation. The other telling statistic is that they have only scored 30 points or more once this season in the Premiership, much like last term too. Their supporters will point to masses of bad luck in the injury stakes. This has been true of a number of teams in the basement. The simple truth is that Bath's squad has not stepped in to fill the shoes of the injured.
Not even the return of Jack Rowell, their old stage-hand, has lifted the torpor that has dragged the once great club down to its current depths. The new coaching regime led by Michael Foley and Brian Smith is still struggling to step out of the shadows left by Rowell's former charges -- the likes of Andy Robinson, Ben Clarke, Jeremy Guscott ... and, dare I mention him, Stuart Barnes.
Followers of Wasps will remember whistfully when Bath beat us comfortably at Twickenham in the Pilkington Cup final of 1995. The west countrymen dominated proceedings so much that most of us will only have memories of the crowd calling for Will Carling's reinstatement as England's captain after his infamous off-the-cuff and so-called off-the-record "57 farts" comment.
The RFU may have reformed beyond all recognition since then but Bath have not. Rather than continuing to dominate England's premier clubs, the professional era ushered in shortly after that cup final found them out. Perhaps they believed in their own hype. Perhaps they thought other teams would not catch them so quickly. Whatever the reason, they allowed Wasps to "steal" two of their cast-off lock forwards at the start of the first full professional season and the rest, as they say, is history. Messrs. Cronin and Reed helped Wasps take the championship.
A paltry European Cup win and a playoff Grand Final appearance is about all they have to show for the seven long years since the end of shamateurism. Their ground remains boxed-in by the council with no improvement yet in sight.
On the field we can expect to see Mike Catt leading their international contingent away from the bottom rung. Mike Tindall is doubtful after injuring his ankle playing for England against Ireland last weekend. Watching him and Kevin Maggs bash seven shades of black and blue out of each other must have been painful for Foley to watch, particularly as he allowed Rob Thirlby to escape to Rotherham. A move which may come back to haunt the Aussie supremo.
Ollie Barkley is doubtful too but Bath can call on Simon Danielli, Tom Voyce and Matt Perry in the backs. They also have Samoa wing Elvis Seveali'i from New Zealand's Wellington Lions. The 24-year-old joining Bath on trial until the end of the season. Iain Balshaw is two weeks away form full fitness, much to the relief of our back line.
Up front Andy Long and Jonathan Humphreys are both injured. Leadership will come from Danny Grewcock in his own inimitable way. England rival, Simon Shaw, will be particularly keen to welcome him in front of Wayward and Robbo. Flanker, Adam Vander, was injured during the A international at Donnybrook last weekend and he will be out for up to six months, stretching Bath's pack to the limit with Dan Lyle still a fortnight away from returning after a three month absence.
Wasps will pick a team mixed from rested international players and squad players who have been training hard at Acton or in Poland's refrigerator. Big Trevor Leota couldn't escape the big freeze this time. It'll be interesting to see how he takes to the field on Sunday.
With Chiltern Railways opting to maintain the track between Gerrards Cross and Denham. Be advised to allow an extra hour for your train journey:
Author: dixiewasp
Date: 02-04-03 09:25
Chiltern Railways Enquiries 08705 165165 - [07.00-20.00] The Marylebone - High Wycombe journey doesn't seem too problematic [bus between Denham-Gerrards Cross] trains will run approx. half-hourly. The 10.23am Marylebone train arrives at High Wycombe at 11.42am.
The women's fixture kicks off at 12.15 - come early and watch Wasps win the women's league.
Previously in the league between Wasps and Bath - Pl 26 W 8 D 2 L 16
Biggest Win for Wasps 35-0 7 Feb 1999
Biggest Win for Bath 36-12 17 Feb 1996
14 Sep 2002 27-27 @ The Rec
12 May 2002 24-22 @ The Rec
2 Dec 2001 23-10 @ Loftus Rd
6 May 2001 31-36 @ Loftus Rd
17 Mar 2001 13-16 @ The Rec
27 Aug 2000 12-36 @ Loftus Rd
22 Jan 2000 16-27 @ The Rec
5 Dec 1999 23-21 @ Loftus Rd
7 Feb 1999 35-0 @ Loftus Rd
5 Sep 1998 27-36 @ The Rec
17 May 1998 17-31 @ Loftus Rd
14 Feb 1998 27-43 @ The Rec
6 Apr 1997 25-25 @ Loftus Rd
14 Sep 1996 40-36 @ The Rec
17 Feb 1996 12-36 @ The Rec
7 Oct 1995 6-15 @ Sudbury
25 Mar 1995 11-10 @ Sudbury
8 Oct 1994 9-12 @ The Rec
12 Mar 1994 8-24 @ The Rec
9 Oct 1993 13-19 @ Sudbury
13 Mar 1993 11-22 @ The Rec
14 Mar 1992 12-24 @ Sudbury
9 Mar 1991 16-15 @ The Rec
25 Nov 1989 9-18 @ Sudbury
26 Nov 1988 6-16 @ The Rec
14 Nov 1987 19-15 @ Sudbury
Simon Danny
Shaw Grewcock
(Wasps) (Bath)
16 Matches 17
110 Tackles 97
15 Misses 8
69 Ball Carries 55
301 Metres 200
15 Passes 17
5 Defenders Beaten 8
4 Tries Scored 0
Related link: Bath ERE - luck not an issue