ZP Preview: London Wasps to arrest Bath's swing?

Watching the Fidler
By Peter Snow's swingometer, filed 3/10/03
October 3 2003

So, it's London Wasps versus Bath. A lot can happen during a World Cup summer and, by jove, it did! London Wasps' team was crowned champions in a sudden death final. Bath's team, finally, was very, very nearly, suddenly dead.

However, October is upon us and, before the World Cup stage averts our eyes from domestic matters, it's back to reality. Will it be a winter of discontent? Wasps' premier ministrations during the relatively recent Parker Pen Final and Premiership drubbings over Bath must be consigned to glorious history.

The harsh truth is, the London Wasps team continue to capitulate without Captain Dallaglio and his international band of brothers. Wasps' refusal to perform with authority away from the London causeway is baffling. Although Wasps' form seems to be intact, and it has yet to be tested on the home front, one can only hazard a guess as to how the encounter with Bath will go this Sunday.

Let's see if anyone at London Wasps has paid attention to the OPTAstats at all? It would be politic if the team took note, i.e. not giving away kickable penalties to the deadliest kicker (Drahm); not being taken by surprise by a colourful counterattacking team (even after a dress-rehearsal last May); and not falling prey to the sucker punch (the cross-field Hail Mary or the blindside breakout). And London Wasps shouldn't bank on unforced errors (Leeds Tykes) to ease the pressure. The home electorate expect their team to get its nose in front and keep it there.

If London Wasps have become predictably unpredictable, again, the perennial top dogs of the late eighties and early nineties were rank outsiders last season. Bath only just held on to its constituency at the death last season, courtesy of a pierced Bristol lead balloon. O, Malcolm! What did you do?

A quick glance at the swingometer reveals that, if there was a champion's election tomorrow, Bath would be running neck and NEC with an equally unlikely candidate -- Harlequins! But, and here's the rub, there won't be a new Premier championed until next May. Bath's team may just be getting carried away with itself.

One former strength has returned to Bath's aid, however, the club's formidible ability to recruit hard and well. It's almost business as usual in the west country. Save for the scale of the upheaval during the summer -- a mere 54 per cent influx of new blood into Bath's ranks.

Three weeks into the campaign and the new Bathonians have gelled well with the old timers. There's a new chief steward too. John Connelly now sweeps Jack Rowell's deck, and the list to port has been righted. Michael Foley has taken a step back, rather than walk the plank, and his new deck hands have gybed and are flying with full canvas.

What does it all mean? There Bath stand, proudly at the head of the table. Its renovated team has unseated two opponents on its travels and one contender on home turf! And the team has scored heavily against Leeds Tykes away and Northampton at home. Come the crunch next May, the teams that win consistently on the road will be contesting the Championship. Bath just might have picked up the habit.

How did this unlikely turn of events come about? It now has a tight five to be reckoned with. When push comes to shove, Bath can mix it with the big boys again, even with Thug away on his RWC travels. Rob Fidler is filling his sizeable boots and he made the difference last weekend up at Sale. Wasps' Shawsie may just have reason to halt Bath's momentum in the forwards, however.

And, perhaps most ironically of all, Bath has permed some of its former academicians with Bristol's, and it's paid off! Add a large Feaunati, late of Leeds, Rotherham and Oirish, and a former Waspish meerkat, et voila...it's a funny old game!

What does the swingometer make of it all? It predicts lots of small forays over the gain line on either side, some filibustering and plenty of missed opportunities plus a censure motion or two from the returning officer in black.

And the at final reckoning? A slight advantage overall to London Wasps at no-side. If Bath has a weakness, it has a soft centre/half back axis. Bath's fans are just giving the old swingometer a bang to see if it's still working... Remember, it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing...

London Wasps: 15 Tom Voyce; 14 Shane Roiser, 13 Fraser Waters, 12 Ayoola Erinle, 11 John Rudd; 10 Mark Van Gisbergen, 9 Rob Howley ©; 1 Tim Payne, 2 Trevor Leota, 3 Craig Dowd, 4 Simon Shaw, 5 Richard Birkett, 6 Ian Clarke, 7 Paul Volley, 8 John Hart

Bench: 16 Peter Richards, 17 Ben Gotting, 18 Mark Denney, 19 James Haskell, 20 George Skivington, 21 Peter Scrivener, 22 Alistair McKenzie

Bath: 15 Matt Perry; 14 Lee Best, 13 Jamie Williams, 12 Olly Barkley, 11 Brendon Daniel; 10 Chris Malone, 9 Martyn Wood; 1 David Flatman, 2 Jonathan Humphreys ©, 3 Duncan Bell, 4 Steve Borthwick, 5 Rob Fidler, 6 Andy Beattie, 7 Michael Lipman, 8 Zak Feaunati

Bench: 16 Hentie Martens, 17 Lee Mears, 18 Matt Stevens, 19 Robbie Kydd, 20 Tim Brasher, 21 James Scaybrook, 22 Scott Gray