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Wasps v Falcons 25/11/07

Captain's back
By Leipziger
November 23 2007
Sunday sees the only Premiership match in the middle of seven cup games, for some reason, with the first of two successive trips to Wasps in High Wycombe. The other Men-in-Black welcome back a number of World Cup players for their first league matches of the season, whilst we are still missing both of our England fly-halves.

Wasps have endured a nightmare start to the season with only one league victory, against London Irish at Adams Park in October by a score of 28-14, to go with a draw at Worcester.  Our hosts have, like ourselves, been nilled this season with a 16-0 loss at Sale, and have also been beaten at Harlequins and at Twickenham by Saracens.  Leicester won the only other Premiership match in Wycombe this season 17-20.

 

These results have put Wasps tenth in the table with eight points, two places and six points below us going into Sunday’s meeting.

 

Since turning their attention to cup matters though, Wasps have faired better, not losing in four matches.  A draw at Newport and home win over Gloucester in the EDF Cup (or LW Friendly, as my ticket for next week says) have set up next Saturday’s group decider against ourselves in Wycombe, whilst in the Heineken Cup Munster were beaten at the Ricoh Arena 24-23 in front of 21,560 fans.

 

The last outing was away to Llanelli in the Heineken, when the holders sent out a statement of intent with a 33-17 bonus point victory including five tries, two from man of the match Fraser Waters.

 

Our most prominent link with Wasps, twice-cup winner at Kingston Park Dave Walder, played the last six minutes at Stradey Park.  And now we also have an ex-Wasp ourselves, with Steve Bates back on the Falcons’ backroom staff.

 

The Falcons have not fared well at Adams Park since Wasps’ move there in 2002, losing all 5 visits.  However, we have been competitive in each, barring a 6-21 defeat in January 2006.  Last year saw us 12-3 up early on thanks to tries by England centres Mathew Tait and Jamie Noon, both of whom play on Sunday, but after Jason Oakes was sin-binned the Pests came back and were the eventual 35-15 winners.

 

The Falcons make three changes to the team which beat Brive last Thursday, with captain Phil Dowson and Ben Woods in for the injured Russell Winter and Brent Wilson, and Jon Golding starting.  Sean Tomes is on an inexperienced bench, barring the front-rowers.

 

15 Tom May
14 Ollie Phillips
13 Mathew Tait
12 Jamie Noon
11 John Rudd
10 Steve Jones
9 James Grindal
1 Jon Golding
2 Matt Thompson
3 David Wilson
4 Andy Perry
5 Mark Sorenson
6 Geoff Parling
7 Ben Woods
8 Phil Dowson (captain)

Replacements:
Andy Long
Joe McDonnell
Sean Tomes
Eni Gesinde
Lee Dickson
Tim Visser
Tom Dillon

 

Wasps give Tom Voyce his 150th appearance in an incredibly strong backline, and Simon Shaw, Lawrence Dallaglio and Josh Lewsey are on the bench should they need reinforcements.

 

15 Mark Van Gisbergen
14 Paul Sackey
13 Fraser Waters
12 Riki Flutey
11 Tom Voyce
10 Danny Cipriani
9 Eoin Reddan (c)
1 Tim Payne
2 Joe Ward
3 Nick Adams
4 Richard Birkett
5 George Skivington
6 James Haskell
7 Tom Rees
8 John Hart

Replacements:
16 Rob Webber
17 Michael Holford
18 Simon Shaw
19 Lawrence Dallaglio
20 Simon Amor
21 Josh Lewsey
22 Dan Leo

 

There should be a good Geordie presence in the Valley Terrace on Sunday, so all of us in there lets make a racket and show the Wasps fans how to support their team!

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