ZP Preview: Will Sale Kick Themselves?

Rev Starts
By Peter Snow's Swingometer
March 25 2005

London Wasps travel to Stockport keen to cement our advantage over Sale in the Zurich Premiership. The international players return to club rugby after a largely disappointing Six Nations tournament. Second versus third, four games left in the scramble for the playoffs...

...and few opportunities left to grab Sir Clive's attention and one of the 44 Lions berths. If he remains true to his word, none of those not playing international rugby this spring stands much chance of making the trip to the land of the long white cloud, not least our indomitable captain, Lawrence Dallaglio. However, whist the door remains open, there'll be plenty of concentrated minds at Edgley Park tonight.

Speaking of the Six Nations, Sale's early season form dipped alarmingly without its international contingent, pointing to a deficiency in their strength in depth. Even today they will be stretched, having said goodbye to long-term casualty, Trevor Woodman, and suffering two key injuries in the backs: Jason Robinson and Mayer are out.

Previous meetings: PL23 W15 D1 L7

11 Sep 2004  P	 30-33  Causeway Stadium	 
 4 Jan 2004  P	 26-10  Causeway Stadium	 
10 Oct 2003  P	 37-33  Edgeley Park	 
 3 May 2003  P	 16- 9	Heywood Road	 
24 Nov 2002  P	 25-32  Causeway Stadium	 
19 May 2002  CP  27-43  Heywood Road	 
16 Mar 2002  P	 22-27  Heywood Road	 
16 Sep 2001  P	 21-40  Loftus Road	 
14 Apr 2001  P	 59-29  Heywood Road	 
26 Nov 2000  P	 33-24  Loftus Road	 
30 Apr 2000  P	 58- 5	Loftus Road	 
11 Sep 1999  P	  8-16  Heywood Road	 
 8 May 1999  P	 27-13  Heywood Road	 
22 Nov 1998  P	 32-19  Loftus Road	 
18 Apr 1998  P	 28-28  Heywood Road	 
 2 Nov 1997  P   22-38  Loftus Road	 
20 Apr 1997  1   36-10  Loftus Rd
31 Aug 1996  1   33-31  Heywood Rd
23 Mar 1996  1   25-16  Repton Ave
30 Sep 1995  1   25-18  Heywood Rd
 8 Apr 1995  1   17-12  Heywood Rd
15 Oct 1994  1   52-22  Repton Ave
12 Mar 1988  1   14- 6  Heywood Rd

Listen in to the sold-out game tonight : Sale v. Wasps on the Beeb's GMR or on London Wasps link

Sale: 15 Charlie Hodgson; 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Jos Baxendell, 12 Chris Rhys Jones, 11 Steve Hanley; 10 Mike Hercus, 9 Bryan Redpath; 1 Andrew Sheridan, 2 Andy Titterrell, 3 Barry Stewart, 4 Chris Jones, 5 Dean Schofield, 6 Jason White, 7 Magnus Lund, 8 Sebastien Chabal

Bench, from: Jason Duffy, Sebastien Bruno, John Payne, Sililo Martens, Richard Wigglesworth, Fernandez Lobbe, Peter Anglesea, Stuart Turner, John Carter

London Wasps: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Ayoola Erinle, 12 Rob Hoadley, 11 Tom Voyce; 10 Alex King, 9 Matt Dawson; 1 Tim Payne, 2 Phil Greening, 3 Will Green, 4 Simon Shaw, 5 Richard Birkett, 6 John Hart, 7 Tom Rees, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (Capt.)

Bench, from: 16 Trevor Leota, 17 Craig Dowd, 18 Martin Purdy, 19 Joe Worsley, Peter Richards, 21 Jonny O' Connor, 22 James Brooks, 23 Josh Lewsey