Preview: Wasps v Gloucester
London Wasps take on Gloucester in a Guinness Premiership top-of-the-table clash at Adams Park on Sunday, with the result likely to have a big bearing on the championship race.
London Wasps take on Gloucester in a Guinness Premiership top-of-the-table clash at Adams Park on Sunday, with the result likely to have a big bearing on the championship race.
Wasps have climbed to third in the table after recording their eighth win in succession at Saracens a fortnight ago, but Director of Rugby Ian McGeechan knows Sunday's game against table topping Gloucester will be the toughest yet.
“Gloucester have been good all season, that's why they are top,” said McGeechan.
“This game is without doubt our biggest challenge of the season far. Gloucester produce quality rugby on a consistent basis and we have to perform on Sunday to challenge them.
“We've had to fight our way into the top four, and I've no doubt that the race for the play offs will go right down to the wire next Saturday.”
Wasps go into the game not having lost in the Premiership since playing Gloucester at Kingsholm in January, but they face a tough week, with three games to play in the next seven days.
Nevertheless, McGeechan names a strong line up to face the league leaders.
Riki Flutey has recovered from a dead leg and partners Fraser Waters in the centre, whilst up front there is no Phil Vickery (knee) or Pat Barnard (knee), so Tim Payne moves to tighthead with Tom French starting at loosehead.
Joe Worsley gets the nod to join Tom Rees and Lawrence Dallaglio on the back row, with James Haskell having to settle for the bench alongside Waldouck.
Barnard, who has been in intensive rehab since stretching his posterior cruciate ligament against Saracens, is being monitored daily in his recovery, but was not ready for Sunday's game.
Meanwhile, Anthony Allen will return to Gloucester's midfield for the showdown in High Wycombe.
The England centre has not featured since being withdrawn mid-way through Gloucester's Heineken Cup defeat against Munster last month with a shoulder injury.
Allen has so far made 27 appearances in all competitions this season and has scored six tries and he returns in a centre partnership with Mike Tindall that allows James Simpson-Daniel to switch back to the wing as head coach Dean Ryan names his line-up that will not include Lesley Vainikolo because of a hamstring strain.
That means Iain Balshaw continues on the other wing and Olly Morgan will make his first start at fullback since the defeat against Munster.
Ryan Lamb and Rory Lawson will start their fifth successive match together as half-back partners.
The forwards have a settled feel to them. Nick Wood will pack down at loose-head alongside hooker Andy Titterrell, who will start his seventh successive game, and Carlos Nieto.
Marco Bortolami will skipper the side from the second row alongside Alex Brown. Alasdair Strokosch will wear six and form a back row alongside Akapusi Qera, who scored a hat-trick in Gloucester's victory over Leeds, and number eight Luke Narraway.
“We are very aware of what Sunday represents in terms of the challenge we face and what we have to do to match it,” said Ryan.
“It's about a physicality level we have experienced at the top end of Europe and we will be ready for that. Wasps are an outstanding side, well schooled in the arts of knockout rugby and that is what makes the challenge very exciting.
“But we need to concentrate and focus on our game and getting the maximum out of the threat we can create. If we can do that then I am positive we can stretch any team we come up against.
“We have given ourselves an opportunity towards the play-offs but nothing has been accomplished yet which is why this game means so much to us.”
On the bench, Ryan has opted for a five-two forward split. Hooker Olivier Azam and prop Alasdair Dickinson are the front row options; Will James is the second row cover, while both Peter Buxton and Gareth Delve complete the forwards. Gareth Cooper and Willie Walker – both starters against Leeds – are the three-quarter options.
Form: London Wasps have won eight games in succession in the Guinness Premiership, since losing 17-18 to today's opponents at Kingsholm on 26 January. Wasps have won their last 13 home games in all competitions. League leading Gloucester Rugby have won their last two games in the Guinness Premiership, but away from home have lost their last six matches in all competitions. Gloucester have already visited Adams Park this season; losing 26-29 in the EDF Energy Cup on 4 November. Wasps have won their last 20 home games in all competitions against Gloucester – their last victory on Wasps soil being 23-19 at Sudbury in the 3rd round of the Pilkington Cup on 27 January 1990.
London Wasps: 15 Josh Lewsey, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Fraser Waters, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Tom Voyce, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (c), 7 Tom Rees, 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Tim Payne, 2 Raphaël Ibañez, 1 Tom French.
Replacements: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Michael Holford, 18 George Skivington, 19 James Haskell, 20 Mark McMillan, 21 Dominic Waldouck, 22 Mark van Gisbergen.
Gloucester: 15 Olly Morgan, 14 James Simpson-Daniel, 13 Mike Tindall, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Iain Balshaw, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Rory Lawson, 8 Luke Narraway, 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Alex Brown, 4 Marco Bortolami (c), 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Andy Titterrell, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Olivier Azam, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Will James, 19 Peter Buxton, 20 Gareth Delve, 21 Gareth Cooper, 22 Willie Walker.
Date: Sunday, 4 May
Kick-off: 15:00 (14:00 GMT)
Venue: Adams Park
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Touch judges: Stuart Terheege, Paul Emerson
Coach: Clive Leeke
Television match official: John Burtenshaw