ZP Preview: Back to reality against Bath

Silent Assassin out
By Peter Snow's Swingometer
February 16 2005

London Wasps resume our chase for a third straight Zurich Premiership title against the team we beat 10-6 at Twickenham last May. That triumphant but tired trophy win was sandwiched between two equally close away wins at the Recreation Ground. Will Bath be up for points today?

While London Wasps were enjoying some much needed time off last weekend, Bath beat Sale in the cup with a late dropped goal by stand-off, Chris Malone. That result sees the ten-times cup winners through to the semi-finals and a west country derby against Gloucester.

However, Bath's form in terms of the Zurich Premiership is little better than middling. Compared with last season's table-topping performance, five defeats and a paucity of bonus points is not what John Connolly would expect of his squad in his final year in charge. Last season saw just as many injuries without as many falls.

Since London Wasps turned them over 19-16 at the Rec., Bath managed to win four games in a row in the league. Two defeats since Christmas, away to Sale and at home to Saracens of all teams has left Bath's title hopes in the balance. Like Wasps, their Heineken Cup form deserted them too so one should expect a limited, forward-dominated game plan today.

London Wasps are forced to juggle our hand too, with injuries to Stuart Abbott, Matt Dawson and Fraser Waters hampering the spine of our three-quarter line. However, our biggest test will come up front amongst the tight five. This unit was given a severe examination by Biarritz two weeks ago.

The talismanic opposing hookers, Jonathan Humphreys and Trevor Leota, are both out injured leaving the pundits to concentrate on the match-up between Craig Dowd and Duncan Bell. Bath will expect to domininate the set pieces - they must as their faithful have no belief in the cutting edge of their backs, unlike London Wasps, who show signs of building towards another date at Twickenham.

Perhaps London Wasps will use the frustration of failing to compete strongly enough against Biarritz to break loose from Bath's constrictive defense. Four points are the order of the day with the conflicting interests of club versus country looming during the Six Nations and IRB Sevens next month. Let Bath take the points and life, not to mention the contract negotiations, become a lot more difficult.

To this end, Warren Gatland has focused minds with his choice of James Brooks at stand-off and the promotion of Warren Fury to reserve scrum half. We live in interesting times and the old swingometer predicts a win by three points for Wasps. Allez BOPB aussi!

London Wasps: Van Gisbergen, Lewsey, Hoadley, Erinle, Voyce, Brooks, Dawson, Dowd, Gotting, Payne, Shaw, Birkett, Dallaglio (Capt.), O'Connor, Worsley.

Bench: Barrett, Green, Rees, Skivington, Fury, King, Thrower.

Bath: Perry, Crockett, Higgins, Barkley, Williams, Malone, Walshe, Barnes, Mears, Bell, Borthwick (Capt.), Grewcock, Beattie, Lipman, Feau'nati.

Bench: Ward, Stevens, Scaysbrook, Fidler, Best, Wood, Davis.