By Sparkie
January 13 2003

Wasps welcomed their nemesis, Stade Français, to a crisp and even, frost-bound Adams Park. Fortunately the pitch took studs and it was game on, the frost looked worse than its bite. The teams were equally matched in the first half. Wasps turned round 16-13 up and turned up the heat in the 2nd half. Talking about the prospects the previous evening with a Stadiste from Paris (Hello, Nicolas), he thought that his team would prove miserly in giving penalties away in their half. But travelling for a second consecutive Parker Pen cup tie in and around London obviously dulled Stade's senses. Within 12 minutes Alex King had slotted two penalty goals for a 6-0 lead following some workmanlike rucking.

Stade started to find their feet with some snappy pop-passes in the centre before opening up our flanks. First, Diego Dominguez halved the deficit within a few minutes and then some swift handling in the backs cut a swathe through our defence and Nani Corletto burst through from fullback to score by the posts.

Wasps tightened up and opted to kick two 50m plus penalties, the second of which Kenny Logan converted. The aim was to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Dominguez replied and a kicking game looked the order of the day.

The first half hinged on a lucky break for Wasps following the restart. The ball was secured and spun towards the left flank where Kenny Logan improvised a shinner which bounced off his opposite number. Stuart Abbott half-hesitated before being waved on to pounce on the loose ball. King converted to give us a useful halftime lead.

Warren Gatland's instructions must have been strike like lightening after the restart. As conditions underfoot improved, Wasps outflanked Stade on their right wing and John Rudd scorched past Stephane Glas to add to the score.

Dominguez cut back the 10-point lead with another penalty but then Stade went off the rails. They committed a mere three penalties at the breakdown area in quick succession, the third of which saw centre, Brian Liebenberg, carded for kicking the ball away from an offside position. As he watched from the sin-bin, Wasps rolled a maul 20 metres and Lawrence Dallaglio claimed a converted try.

Sadly indiscipline at a ruck gave Dominguez another easy three points before our game-winning try. Phil Greening, freshly on for Trevor Leota, provided the extra pair of hands in Stade's 22, enabling Fraser Waters to burst through to score in the 75th minute.

Crucially, for the visitors, Liebenberg had the presence of mind to send a mighty clearance upfield as Wasps went in search of one last score. The touch judge failed to mark where the ball had dribbled into touch and awarded it 10 metres closer to our line. Typically, Philis proceeded to throw directly to Stade's front jumper, affording Dominguez the opportunity to drop what could be a three-point lifeline of a field goal at no-side.

One hopes our lineout frailties will not come back to haunt us next weekend. The task is clear, cut out the needless penalties at the breakdown, keep posssession like we did at home and the tie is ours. Another team performance and the semifinals beckon, probably against Pontypridd who beat Connacht 35-30 away. We shall not turn up in Paris like we did in the last two years -- when injuries and poor form yielded Stade the easiest of home wins. They won't expect to nil us this year.

Plaudits go to the whole team for subduing an out of sorts Stade. Special mentions go to Teflon for his improvisory skill and Rev. Green for his deft chip ahead. Howlers had another masterful game, save for one box kick that Woody seems to have taught him. Once we had gained the confidence to run the ball deeper along the back line, Stade didn't get a look in. 13 points should be tough enough.

Wasps: M.van Gisbergen; J.Rudd, F.Waters, S.Abbott, K.Logan; A.King, R.Howley; C.Dowd, T.Leota, W.Green, S.Shaw, R.Birkett, J.Worsley, P.Volley, L.Dallaglio (Capt.)

Bench: Wood, Greening, Denney, Erinle, Scrivener, Beardshaw, Kershaw.

Stade Français: Corloto; Lombard, Glas, Leibenberg, Dominici; Dominguez, Galthie; Emmanuelli, August, De Villiers, Auradou, James, Martin, Rabadan, Moni.

Bench: Cabello, Lemoine, Tabacco, Jechoux, Gomes, Comba, Filol.

Related link: Ponty at Connacht