London Wasps: Fired Up and Ready to Go

The Boss's view
By Barney Burnham, filed 2/9/2003
September 3 2003

The waiting's almost over and the new season is about to start. London Wasps defence of the Zurich Premiership title begins against our old friends the Harlequins at the Stoop on September 13th.

They were the only side to do the double on us last season and London Wasps Director of Rugby Warren Gatland says we owe them:

"No rugby player ever likes losing to their biggest rival. To lose to them twice in a season really hurts. It's a great game for us to start the season - we'll be highly motivated".

Gatland believes the squad is in better condition than it was at this time last year. "We've had a year together as a squad. We've worked really hard and physically we're in great shape."

He knows that the World Cup could strip the side of some key players, but he sees that as a challenge: "This is going to give some younger players the opportunity to gain valuable experience and stake a claim for places in the future. Ideally I'd like them to make it hard for me to leave them out when the big names get back from the World Cup."

One player who - barring a plague of locusts, an act of God, or the worst selection decision ever - is set to miss the first half of the ZP season is skipper Lawrence Dallaglio. "Obviously, the World Cup is the pinnacle. Everybody wants to be a part of it. But we're all of us going to keeping a close eye on what's going on at home. In a way it is frustrating to miss such a large part of the domestic season, but clearly the World Cup is as big as it gets."

Lawrence is relishing the added spice of our return to the Heineken Cup. "Last year was the first time we've missed out on the Heineken Cup. We had a great time in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup, but the Heineken Cup is really the one to be in. It's a nice coincidence that the first game after the World Cup is our home group match against Perpignan. I don't think many returning World Cup players will be saying they're too tired to play in that one!"

He also takes a positive view about the opportunities for young players to make a name for themselves, while the "big guns" are away. "Last season, I could see as a captain that other players in the side were beginning to be happy taking on more responsibility. That has to be a good thing. I'm confident we can have another good season, and I think we have what it takes to do well in Europe."

In Lawrence's absence, much responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Rob Howley. He welcomes the challenge. "We've got the tag of champions. We thoroughly enjoyed last season, but we're well aware of how we're going to be targeted this year.Crucial players will be missing. It's up to the likes of me, Craig Dowd, Fraser Waters, Richard Birkett and others to step up to the mark. We don't want to overstate how much we're going to miss the World Cup players, because every club's going to be in the same boat. The more you talk about it, the more of an issue it becomes. We haven't talked about it in pre-season training. There's a great team spirit and we know we all have a job to do."

The Welsh legend says he has no regrets about not playing in the World Cup, following his decision to retire from international rugby. "I thoroughly enjoyed my international career, but I was the one who brought the curtain down on it. I thoroughly enjoyed last season and I'm looking forward to the next two years playing for Wasps."

Howley says last season was far better than he could ever have hoped, when he joined Wasps in the summer of 2002. "We were just hoping that we'd get back into Europe. Our goal changed throughout the season and we ended up with two trophies. This year, Europe is the major goal. But a lot depends on how England do in the World Cup. If things don't go according to plan, and our England boys come back jaded, it could affect how we do. Hopefully, they'll come back all enthusiastic after winning the World Cup and looking forward to the European campaign and the second half of the Zurich Premiership season."

Rob says a visit to our old friends at the Stoop is a great way to start the season. "They beat us twice last year. If we had to pick any side that we'd like to play first up, it'd be Harlequins. We owe them one, so it's something to look forward to."

Coach Shaun Edwards also sees the Quins match as payback time. "Let's make no bones about it. They're our bogey team. In the four times we've played them since I've been here, we've only beaten them once. And that was a very close game, down at Loftus Road. We certainly do owe them, to say the least."

He says the squad have all developed physically since last season, and the younger squad members have gained valuable experience to help fill the boots of the World Cup stars. "There isn't a club in the world that wouldn't suffer from losing so many key players, but it gives the next generation a chance to make a name for themselves."

While much attention is bound to focus on the World Cup in the next few months, Chairman Chris Wright firmly believes that club rugby is booming:"Attendances are going up, interest is rising. We're much further down the road than we could have expected when the game went professional just a few years ago. And if England do well in the World Cup, the knock-on effect for the club game could be fantastic. I think club finances are close to being on an even keel, and the club game has a bright future."

Warren Gatland is confident that Wasps also have a bright future. "By the end of last season, we were playing almost as well as we possibly could. I was a bit frustrated with some of the games - Sale away, and Northampton in the playoff semi-final. We were dominating them, but not putting them away. Despite that, I was confident that we had the ability to really give any side a hammering. We began to get it right in the Parker Pen Final, and then came the Premiership Final at Twickenham. The way we played there, we'd have beaten anybody on the day."

Gatland believes Northampton could be a major threat in the new season: "They've recruited very well, and they probably haven't as many World Cup calls as some other clubs.They're going to be tough."

In Europe, he believes any one of about 7 or 8 teams could go all the way:" I believe a fit Wasps team has a great chance of a good run. Munster and Leinster can never be written off. The French teams are always difficult to beat. Leicester had a bit of a hiccup last season, but they've made some pretty good signings. I think they've had the shake-up they need to put them back on track."

If there's one word which sums up Gatland's view of the coming season, it's"challenge" .

"The World Cup makes it really difficult. It makes the season so disjointed. It's almost as if you're coaching two separate sides. You're working on the young players and trying to bring them on really quickly. Then you've got the experience you're going to be bringing back into the squad later on, so it's almost like two seasons in one. It's a challenge for everyone at the club - the players, the coaches, everyone, to make sure we can develop some consistency and continue to progress as a team."