ZP Preview: A collective sense of purpose

CEO expects...
By Sparkie
May 9 2003

Wasps enter the finishing straight looking keep our noses ahead of the Sharks' snouts. Quins, on the other hand, hope for some crumbs of comfort following yet another season of under achievement. Somehow their famous club is infamous for being much less than the sum of its parts.

To be fair, Quins were rocked to the core when their England scrum half, Nick Duncombe, died this spring. The Quins team pulled together to pull away from the relegation dogfight. Safety this season has been based mainly on their home form which accounted for their 27-14 triumph over a Wasps team which failed to get out of first gear back in the autumn.

Since then we've gone on to rediscover our form of 2001. Although we've hit second spot we won't be overconfident for this one. Remember the shambles of a game in April 2002? Our focus will be to play the phases, wear down Quins dogged defence and stretch the game in the final quarter when fitness and mental toughness should bring its rewards.

The team picks reveal the underlying thoughts of both of the bosses. Mark Evans team sheet shows that he has one eye on next season and the other on the new fangled wild-card playoffs.

Will Greenwood is rested rather than risking his weary limbs against a pugnacious Wasps team. Chris Bell partners former Shark Mel Deane. Our old-boy, Nick Greenstock, does not feature although he has been pencilled in for the Chris Kays Memorial Game at Reading Abbey FC this Sunday at 3pm. Alex King and Mark Denney are down for this match too.

On the wing, England sevens specialist Ugo Monye gets the nod over another sevens expert, Ben Gollings, who is reported to be off to pastures anew. Surprisingly Dan Luger, who should be dusting up on his French, is given another chance to strut his stuff. Like Sarries Thomas Castaignède, he has yet to impress against Wasps. Lawrence Dallaglio is never one to let opposing players rest on their laurels. Respect has to be earnt.

Keith Wood has failed to recover from his latest injury. He may never play in the Battenburg colours again, hence James Hayter's elevation to the no. 2 jersey -- he needs experience for next season. Jason Leonard is also rested and he joins Greenwood on the sidelines at the Chris Kays Memorial Game. Ace lineout ball stealer, Alex Codling is not fit to start and news filters through that he is off to Sarries, which must gall Mark Evans somewhat.

All in all, it's a very strange line-up for Quins who take on the bulk of Wasps side fresh from the victory over Sale. Phil Greening steps in for what could be his last start, if he is off to Gloucester. Trevor Leota is rested, with good reason given his yellow card count. Quins fancy their pack will perform well without their heavyweights. We should point out that the lineout throwing of either of our hookers is vastly improved since our visit to the Stoop.

Behind the pack, Martyn Wood gets another chance to impress Mallinder and Diamond prior to the England A tour to North America. Woody has recovered the snap to his play and should provide even faster ball to our backs. Kenny Logan gets his latest chance to impress Gats. A hat-trick would get him noticed, come on Teflon.

Wasps: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen; 14 Josh Lewsey, 13 Fraser Waters, 12 Stuart Abbott, 11 Kenny Logan; 10 Alex King, 9 Martyn Wood; 1 Craig Dowd, 2 Phil Greening, 3 Will Green, 4 Simon Shaw, 5 Richard Birkett, 6 Joe Worsley, 7 Paul Volley, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (Capt.)

bENCH: 16 Rob Howley, 17 Ayoola Erinle, 18 John Rudd, 19 Mark Lock, 20 Peter Scrivener, 21 Alistair McKenzie, 22 Trevor Leota.

Quins: 15 Nathan Williams; 14 Ugo Monye, 13 Chris Bell, 12 Mel Deane, 11 Dan Luger; 10 Paul Burke, . Matthew Powell; 1 Ceri Jones, 2 James Hayter, 3 Jon Dawson, 4 Karl Rudzki, 5 Simon Miall, 6 Roy Winters, 7 Andre Vos (Capt.), 8 Tony Diprose

Bench: 16 Tani Fuga, 17 Laurent Gomez, 18 Jim Evans, 19 Luke Sherriff, 20 Pat Sanderson, 21 Scott Bemand, 22 Ben Gollings.