By Peter Snow's Swingometer
October 24 2004

London Wasps v. Biarritz. Heineken Cup winners against one of the losing semi-finalists. One could not wish for a better quality game in the first round of this season's HCup. Forget the hype about Manchester United trying to stop Arsenal's 50-game unbeaten streak, get down to Wasps! Today's match is the perfect antidote to the over-egged, spherical, "other" football Premiership. London Wasps' "back-footmen" taking on the multi-million assemblage that is Biarritz Olympique - Pays Basque.

The weather may be unsettled (light showers are expected this afternoon) but both teams are on their mettle after a hiccup or four. Wasps' injury list has stopped growing, it's merely in standing still -- as a player or two checks out of the medical wing, another one enters.

Biarritz have their own injury problems too, with their captain, Thomas Lièvremont, being out for a number of weeks. However, the presence of new no.8, Imanol Harinordoquy (late of Pau) adds more edge to the proceedings. His avowed "hatred" of the "arrogant" English is well documented. This is just a player finding his "focus", and not finding reality. His utterances on this subject just show a grudging respect for opponents who have walked the walk (Bonjour, Imanol!).

A year ago, Wasps' supporters would have had expectations of a long awaited semi-final appearance at the start of the competition. However, little would they have suspected that both the semi and the final would be matches to match last year's Rugby World Cup final for intensity, raw emotions, telling composure and top, top quality football.

Some pundits have underlined the undoubted fact that the Wasps team rode its luck throughout last year's competition, including the matches in Bridgend and Perpignan. If they scrutinised the results more deeply, they might have noticed the emergence of Shaun Edward's favourite mantra: Wasps has a stubborn, inner belief that we will win, and we will never give in.

The old Swingometer can still detect that that swagger is intact. Hari might not like the result today! Forget the friendly defeat in early August. Biarritz were three weeks ahead of Wasps in their preparation. The 35-7 result meant nothing in terms of the HCup, as Biarritz well know... The other prediction is that Josh will not see much ball out wide. Hell will frieze over before that happens...

London Wasps: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen; 14 Josh Lewsey, 13 Peter Richards, 12 Ayoola Erinle, 11 Tom Voyce; 10 Alex King, 9 Matt Dawson; 1 Tim Payne, 2 Phil Greening, 3 Will Green, 4 John Hart, 5 Richard Birkett, 6 Joe Worsley, 7 Jonny O'Connor, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (Capt.)

Bench: 16 Jonny Barrett, 17 Alistair McKenzie or Craig Dowd, 18 Mark Lock, 19 James Haskell, 20 Harvey Biljon, 21 James Brookes, 22 Fraser Waters

Biarritz: 15 Nicolas Brusque; 14 Jimmy Marlu, 13 Damien Traille, 12 Martin Aramburu, 11 Philippe Bidabé; 10 Julien Peyrelongue, 9 Dimitri Yachvili; 1 Denis Avril, 2 August, 3 Balan, 4 Guillame Booyse, 5 Thion, 6 Malonga, 7 Serge Betsen (Capt.), 8 Imanol Harinordoquy

Bench: 16 Jean-Michel Gonzalez, 17 Lecouls, Sotélé Pueloto, 18 Christophe Milhères, 19 Julien Dupuy, 20 Lacroix, 21 Dambielle.

Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)

For an in-depth analytical preview see today's Sunday Times