Preview: Wasps v Harlequins

London Wasps open their Guinness Premiership campaign facing local rivals, Harlequins, as part of the London Double Header at Twickenham.

London Wasps open their Guinness Premiership term facing local rivals, Harlequins, as part of the London Double Header at Twickenham.

Six new signings will debut for the club, with a further two named on the bench by new Wasps Director of Rugby, Tony Hanks.

The side will be captained by Serge Betsen, who is named as part of a forwards pack that features new signings Argentinean prop Gabriel Bocca and number eight Dan Ward-Smith, as well as Wasps regulars, 2009 Lions tourist Tim Payne and England Saxon George Skivington.

In the back division a dynamic new-look line-up includes wingers Tom Varndell and David Lemi, Australian centres Ben Jacobs and Steve Kefu and a half-back pairing of Danny Cipriani and Joe Simpson.

“There is a great excitement around this fixture against our local rivals Harlequins, marking not only the start of the Guinness Premiership, but for Wasps, a chance to put a long pre-season of hard work into action,” said Hanks

“The squad have come together very well and have quickly become a tight-knit group – following a 12-week pre-season programme including a training camp in Poland and some highly entertaining pre-season fixtures against Dax, Treviso and Glasgow.

“With an influx of so many new faces this season, it is great to give our players a debut in the Wasps jersey on one of the grandest rugby stages in Twickenham. There is a huge awareness of the responsibility and expectation that comes of 'being a Wasp' and this acts as great motivation for a team looking to set out their standards and create their own chapter in Wasps history.

“We expect a big battle and relish the challenge ahead of us – facing a Quins side that will be just as eager as us to start the season strong. The feeling amongst our group is good and I am sure that we will see a committed and dedicated performance that will reflect the hard work that has been shown by every single individual on and off pitch in the lead up to this game.”

A strong Quins team will be led out by Will Skinner in front of an expected record crowd of 60,000, a figure which will hopefully warm the players up for Quins' Big Game II, where the two teams will meet again at Twickenham on December 27th.

In the starting XV Gonzalo Camacho makes his Premiership debut on the wing and, with Mike Brown still injured, Ugo Monye starts at full-back.

New signings, John Andress who signed from Exeter Chiefs over the summer and Rory Clegg who joined the London side from Newcastle, gain places on the Quins bench for the first time, along with academy star George Lowe.

Form: London Wasps have lost their opening Guinness Premiership game for the past two seasons. Wasps have won their last three matches in the Premiership since tripping up 14-22 at Bath on 1 April. Harlequins have won their last two matches on the opening weekend of a new season, but have been victorious just once in their last four encounters in all competitions. Quins have lost only one of their last five games at Twickenham. Both matches between London Wasps and Harlequins this season will be played at Twickenham, whilst the rivals have shared the spoils from their last four encounters in the Guinness Premiership.

London Wasps: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen, 14 Tom Varndell, 13 Ben Jacobs, 12 Steve Kefu, 11 David Lemi, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Dan Ward-Smith, 7 Serge Betsen (c), 6 John Hart, 5 Richard Birkett, 4 George Skivington, 3 Gabriel Bocca, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Ben Broster, 18 Tom French, 19 Dan Leo, 20 Hugo Ellis, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Dave Walder, 23 Lachlan Mitchell.

Harlequins: 15 Ugo Monye, 14 David Strettle, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Gonzalo Camacho, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Will Skinner (c), 6 Chris Robshaw, 5 George Robson, 4 James Percival, 3 Mark Lambert, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Ceri Jones.
Replacements: 16 Tani Fuga, 17 Aston Croall, 18 John Andress, 19 Jim Evans, 20 Tom Guest, 21 Steve So'oialo, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 George Lowe.

Date: Saturday, September 5
Venue: Twickenham
Kick-off: 17.15 BST
Referee: Dean Richards