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EDF Preview: Newport Gwent Dragons v London Wasps

PRINCIPALITY
By Vespasian October 26 2007
London Wasps customary torpor at the outset of a Guinness Premiership campaign is near legendary. This season, the tortoise stuck his head out of the shell at Worcester and promptly hibernated again until Irish came a calling three weeks later. If Wasps have not left the traps yet, the Dragons will give us a roasting at Rodney Parade, that's for certain. Let's see what the EDF Energy Cup brings...

A look at the season so far is not happy reading:

L September 15: Wasps 19 Saracens 29 at Twickenham.
D September 22: Worcester 24 Wasps 24 at Sixways.
L September 30: Wasps 17 Leicester 20 at Adams Park.
L October 5: Sale 16 Wasps 0 at Edgeley Park.
W October 14: Wasps 28 London Irish 14 at Adams Park.
L October 20: Harlequins 26 London Wasps 25 at the Stoop.

November is not yet upon us, and already qualification for the end of season jamboree and next season's Heineken Cup is looking decidedly dodgy. But we've been here before. The EDF Energy Cup is a five game gateway to Europe. We targeted it two seasons ago and came up trumps. We may as well do the same this season.

There are three differences this season, however...

1. Our squad is smaller: do we have the breadth and depth to cope with a Newport sojourn?

2. The RWC: England's progress to the final and France's close-shave has put back any plans to reintegrate our international players into this season's scheme of things.

3. Our group includes further flung teams beyond the Welsh question: our friends from the north, Newcastle, a must win; and a grimmer prospect, Gloucester. Not what the doctor ordered.

The good news is that Tom Rees is available, having twiddled his thumbs in France for a month. Rob Webber makes way, reverting to the bench. The team is otherwise unchanged from last weekend's game at Harlequins.

Director of Rugby, Ian McGeechan said: "It's great to have Tom Rees back out on the domestic stage and we look forward to facing our opposition, Newport Gwent Dragons who are going well in the Magners League. Playing in Wales is always a challenge and we know that we will have to be on top of our game to come away with a win."

Can Wasps do it? The pack must give us go-forward ball, as the signs are that the backs are starting to click.

London Wasps team v. Newport Gwent Dragons on Saturday 26th October, kick off 5.30pm:

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

Bench: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Michael Holford, 18 Dan Leo, 19 Hugo Ellis, 20 Simon Amor, 21 Dave Walder, 22 Rob Hoadley

Pool details at: http://www.edfenergycup.com/9545_9522.php

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