By Peter Snow's Swingometer
November 28 2003

London Wasps travel up to Newcastle to face the Falcons in a sell-out at the end of a most surreal week in English Rugby. The Zurich Premiership gets down to business with almost a full complement of players and the Rugby World Cup will be in evidence at Kingston Park, paraded by Wor Jonny and LBND. Wasps and Newcastle went at it at the Lost Causeway just four weeks ago. Both sides showed plenty of endeavour in a scrappy encounter. Wasps won through a pair of early tries as Newcastle tried in vain to reel us in. In the end Mark van Gisbergen's boot earned Wasps the points as Dave Walder struggled to master the elements.

Both sides are almost at full strength for the return as we go into round 11 of the Premiership. Newcastle are competitive at home. Save for an unlikely (as it seems now) defeat at the hands of Sarries, Falcons have racked up the points at home. And despite keeping their losing habit away from home they have scored a losing bonus in four out of five of their losses this season.

Wasps have been changeable on the road, to say the least. Marvellous wins over Sarries and Sale have contrasted with very poor performances at Quins, Northampton and Leicester. A loss at Newcastle would not be the end of the title defence by a long chalk. Last season's New year recovery bears witness to that. But a win on Saturday would set Wasps up well for the turn towards the Playoffs.

Dave Walder steps up to fill Jonny's boots at stand-off. When he moved up from fullback to replace Phil Dowson four weeks ago he almost sparked a win for the Falcons. Walder will look to exploit the pace of his wingers -- expect top-scoring Tom May to attack on his opposite wing.

Wasps give Jonny O'Connor a start in the back row as he looks to smother Warren Britz's ball-winning forays alongside his veteran captain, Hugh Vyvyan. Joe Worsley will have his hands full facing the burly knock-on merchant Epi Taione.

The packs are well matched. If Wasps can stem the flow of the ball a tight win looks possible. But if Walder can set his backs flyings, the fledglings-no-longer may prove to be too much on what will be a dark, damp autumnal day. The swingometer is stuck on draw for this one.

Newcastle Falcons v. London Wasps
29 November, 2003 at Kingston Park KO 14:45 Live on Sky.

London Wasps: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen; 14 Tom Voyce, 13 Fraser Waters, 12 Stuart Abbott, 11 Kenny Logan; 10 Alex King, 9 Rob Howley (Capt.); 1 Craig Dowd, 2 Trevor Leota, 3 Will Green, 4 Simon Shaw, 5 Richard Birkett, 6 Joe Worsley, 7 Jonny O’ Connor, 8 Mark Lock

Bench: 16 Peter Richards, 17 Mark Denney, 18 John Rudd, 19 Ben Gotting, 20 Paul Volley, 21 Tim Payne, 22 Martin Purdy

Newcastle: 15 Ben Gollings; 14 Tom May, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Mark Mayerhofler, 11 Michael Stephenson; 10 David Walder, 9 Hall Charlton; 1 Ian Peel, 2 Matt Thompson, 3 Micky Ward, 4 Garath Archer, 5 Stuart Grimes, 6 Epi Taione, 7 Warren Britz, 8 Hugh Vyvyan (Capt.)

Replacements: 16 Marius Hurter, 17 Nick Makin, 18 Mark Andrews, 19 Phil Dowson, 20 Jon Dunbar / Joe Shaw (tbc), 21 James Grindal, 22 Phil Godman

Previous Meetings
League
   2 Nov 2003  1     30-26    Causeway Stdm 
   1 Mar 2003  1     13-12    Adams Pk 
   1 Sep 2002  1     17-24    Kingston Pk
  27 Jan 2002  1     23-22    Kingston Pk
  11 Nov 2001  1     30-33    Loftus Rd
  28 Mar 2001  1     44- 7    Loftus Rd
  23 Sep 2000  1     21-59    Kingston Pk 
  12 Mar 2000  1     34- 8    Kingston Pk
  30 Oct 1999  1     19-19    Loftus Rd
  18 Apr 1999  1     34-33    Loftus Rd
  11 Oct 1998  1     19-27    Gateshead
  22 Apr 1998  1     18-17    Loftus Rd
   7 Apr 1998  1     13-20    Kingston Pk
  29 Jan 1994  1     18-16    Kingston Pk
  25 Sep 1993  1     38-21    Repton Ave       

Cup
  29 Apr 1999 PCF    29-19    Twickenham