London Wasps (A) Preview

By Leipziger
October 12 2006

The Falcons return to Premiership action for an inexplicable one week on Sunday when they go to Dave Walder’s new home Adams Park and take on London Wasps, looking to build on the Cup defeat of Llanelli.

Geordie Hero Walder joined Wasps from Newcastle in the summer and has made a decent start with his new club, scoring 31 points in only three games having made his debut against Saracens in September. He was however not used in either of the EDF Energy Cup matches which saw the High Wycombe side lose at Cardiff and last weekend defeat London Irish for the second time at home this season 23-13, remarkably similar to the September league match which ended 23-17.

Wasps boast of course one of the top squads in the country, with a veritable smorgasbord of internationals including England’s World Cup winners Lawrence Dallaglio, Matt Dawson, Joe Worsley, Simon Shaw, Josh Lewsey and another new signing Phil Vickery. Dallaglio began his first game of 2006/07 and scored against Irish, whilst Vickery is expected back in the next few weeks. Add to this mix Tom Voyce, Tom Palmer, Tim Payne, Mark Van Gisbergen, Fraser Waters and Alex King, that makes no less than TWELVE England internationals.

And let us not forget 80-times capped French hooker Raphael Ibanez, now in his fourth season on this side of the Channel, and Irish star flanker Jonny O’Connor.

Ian McGeechan’s side are third in the Premiership after winning their first three matches of the season against Saracens, London Irish and Harlequins, before a defeat at Bristol. Centre Josh Taumalolo’s late try gave Bristol the win and bonus point 26-21 after Paul Sackey had crossed twice for Wasps.

When the Falcons traveled to Adams Park in January last season, they took with them a six-match unbeaten run, but were soundly defeated 21-6 with Sackey outpacing Ollie Phillips for the first try of his two tries early on and Matt Dawson sealing the win in the second half. In four visits to Wasps’ latest ground, we are yet to win, and on our recent away form that run doesn’t look likely to be diverted on Sunday.

On the Falcons side, Mathew Tait plays his first match of the season following a knee operation at centre alongside Jamie Noon, and captain Matthew Burke returns at full back. Eni Gesinde makes his first Premiership start, continuing in the back row.

15 Matthew Burke (captain)
14 Tom May
13 Jamie Noon
12 Mathew Tait
11 Anthony Elliott
10 Toby Flood
9 James Grindal
1 Robbie Morris
2 Matt Thompson
3 Micky Ward
4 Andy Perry
5 Jason Oakes
6 Eni Gesinde
7 Ben Woods
8 Phil Dowson
Replacements:
David Wilson
Andy Long
Geoff Parling
Brent Wilson
Joe Shaw
Lee Dickson
Tim Visser