ZP Preview: Champions v. champions
C H A M P I O N S !
By Peter Snow's Swingometer
November 21 2003
London Wasps serve up an hors d'oeuvres to the World Cup final by hosting Gloucester, the team we thoroughly trounced 39-3 in the Zurich Championship final at Twickenham back in May. The sponsors, in their infinite wisdom, decided to award the league champions absolutely zip for their consistency.
To top it all, if the Cherry and Whites do not find that injustice motivation enough, they have never beaten London Wasps away in a League encounter. Not once.
The sponsors might argue that having two trophies would dilute their brand, their influence, their precious competition. Bunkum and balderdash! Take another leaf out of "Super" League's book and go for double bubble.
Lies, Dam Lies and Sponsors
And just look what Zurich has done to the league statistics! They've written the Courage league results out of their record books. Wasps' record league win v. Glos is 44-9? I beg to differ! Our 45-8 victory at Repton Avenue on a balmy September day in 1994 tops that. There are lies, damn lies and sponsors, it seems.
Fair dos, though, Gloucester signed up to the grand finale idea at Twickenham along with ten other clubs, ourselves included. It was only Leicester who demurred, bless their little Tiger paws. But they came nowhere last season anyway. But I digress...
Would Waspies be bothered if our proud home record went west tonight? Of course we would. A win against our old mentor, Nigel Melville's side would propel Lawrence Dallaglio and Josh Lewsey into the World Cup final on a high, knowing that the champions were on course for another top three finish even without them.
Gloucester will point to England's front row as they take on Craig Dowd and fit-again Will Green with their favourite old-timers, Chris Fortey and Andy Deacon. They won't have to take on friend and foe, Phil Greening, though. The England ex-hooker has a gammy toe.
And as our squad casts one eye over its shoulder at the soon-to-return England Wasps, the best news is that Alex King will resume hostilities from the bench. Gommars might be away too but our ex-academy scrummie, Alex Page, might be on hand to reprise a soft shoe shuffle. And Paul Volley will be glad to revise his openside exploits against Gloucester with a rare outing at 7 this season. Robert Todd will be keenly minding his new level-headed stand-off, a certain Duncan McRae.
The old swingometer has just moved towards high pressure. A change is forecast although the gloomy, Grim weather will hold the teams back. Wasps should just withstand the Cherry and White storm once again.
Arrive early, severe traffic congestion is expected. Kick-off 19:45, live on Sky TV
London Wasps: 15 Tom Voyce; 14 Shane Rosier, 13 Fraser Waters, 12 Mark Denney, 11 John Rudd; 10 Mark Van Gisbergen, 9 Rob Howley (Capt); 1 Craig Dowd, 2 Trevor Leota, 3 Will Green, 4 Martin Purdy, 5 Richard Birkett, 6 Ian Clarke, 7 Paul Volley, 8 Mark Lock
Bench: 16 Alex King, 17 Ben Gotting, 18 Peter Richards, 19 Jonny O’ Connor, 20 John Hart, 21 Peter Scrivener, 22 Tim Payne
Gloucester: 15 Jon Goodridge/Thinus Delport; 14 Marcel Garvey, 13 Robert Todd, 12 Henry Paul, 11 James Simpson-Daniel; 10 Duncan McRae, 9 Simon Amor; 1 Rodrigo Roncero, 2 Chris Fortey, 3 Andy Deacon, 4 Mark Cornwell, 5 Alex Brown, 6 Jake Boer (Capt.), 7 James Forrester/Luke Narraway/James Merriman, 8 Peter Buxton
Bench: 16 Chris Collins, 17 Nick Wood, 18 Adrian Olver, 19 Mark Rimmer, 20 Luke Narraway/James Merriman, 21 Alex Page, 22 Jon Goodridge/Josh Frape
Haven't we met before, somewhere? The stark facts:
Wasps vs Gloucester in the league/playoffs: Pl 28 W20 D1 L7 31 May 2003 ZC 39 - 3 Twickenham 4 Jan 2003 1 17 - 24 Kingsholm 26 Oct 2002 1 23 - 16 Adams Park 10 Apr 2002 1 44 - 9 Loftus Road 23 Nov 2001 1 13 - 43 Kingsholm 29 Apr 2001 ZQF 18 - 6 Loftus Rd 10 Feb 2001 1 28 - 3 Kingsholm 17 Sep 2000 1 43 - 23 Loftus Road 22 Apr 2000 1 12 - 26 Kingsholm 26 Sep 1999 1 30 - 26 Loftus Road 27 Dec 1998 1 23 - 9 Loftus Rd 3 Oct 1998 1 13 - 12 Kingsholm 11 Mar 1998 1 15 - 22 Kingsholm 11 Jan 1998 1 26 - 20 Loftus Rd 9 Mar 1997 1 36 - 10 Loftus Rd 6 Oct 1996 1 23 - 28 Kingsholm 30 Mar 1996 1 21 - 10 Repton Ave 14 Oct 1995 1 26 - 15 Kingsholm 7 Jan 1995 1 21 - 16 Kingsholm 10 Sep 1994 1 45 - 8 Repton Ave 8 Jan 1994 1 29 - 18 Repton Ave 11 Sep 1993 1 9 - 9 Kingsholm 24 Oct 1992 1 14 - 9 Repton Ave 18 Apr 1992 1 10 - 15 Kingsholm 20 Oct 1990 1 14 - 9 Repton Ave 14 Oct 1989 1 29 - 4 Repton Ave 8 Oct 1988 1 3 - 19 Kingsholm 13 Feb 1988 1 24 - 13 Kingsholm