ZPC Final Preview: Top Dogs are Underdogs?

Encore!
By Peter Snow's Swingometer
May 29 2004

London Wasps take on Bath in the Zurich Championship final today for the right to emulate Leicester Tigers. A double of doubles beckons following last season's successes, one of which was over today's opponents -- a 48-30 Parker Pen Challenge Cup final at the Madejski Stadium last May.

That game got the Bath monkey off London Wasps' back once and for all. Bath shan't be looking back at their three Twickenham cup finals successes of 1986, 1987 and 1995. This game is about inner belief and inner calm. The swingometer reckons it'll be a three point win. And we know which team it's pointing towards!

London Wasps: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen; 14 Josh Lewsey, 13 Fraser Waters, 12 Stuart Abbott, 11 Tom Voyce; 10 Alex King, 9 Rob Howley; 1 Tim Payne, 2 Trevor Leota, 3 Will Green, 4 Simon Shaw, 5 Richard Birkett, 6 Joe Worsley, 7 Paul Volley, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (Capt.)

Bench: 16 Henry Nwume, 17 Mark Lock, 18 Ben Gotting, 19 Martin Purdy, 20 Peter Richards, 21 Mark Denney, 22 Ayoola Erinle

Bath: 15 Matt Perry; 14 Andrew Higgins, 13 Robbie Fleck, 12 Mike Tindall, 11 Alex Crockett; 10 Chris Malone, 9 Martyn Wood; 1 David Barnes, 2 Jonathan Humphreys (Capt.), 3 Duncan Bell, 4 Steve Borthwick, 5 Danny Grewcock, 6 Andy Beattie, 7 Michael Lipman, 8 Zak Feaunati

Bench: 16 Hentie Martens, 17 Lee Mears, 18 Matt Stevens, 19 Olly Barkley, 20 Mike Catt or Spencer Davey, 21 James Scaysbrook, 22 Rob Fidler