By Sparkie
October 18 2002

Wasps welcome Overmach Parma Rugby to Adams Park for the 2nd leg of the 1st round of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup. Our 16-point lead should effectively make this a dead rubber if we keep our concentration early on. Parma's pack will be out to prove themselves once more having bested ours last week. Warren Gatland can afford to use this tie to prepare for the visit of Gloucester next weekend whilst giving some valuable game-time to the younger players, John Rudd and Ayoola Erinle. The key areas they need to impress Gats are ball retention and first up tackling.

If Rhino can keep hs strike rate up then he'll put real pressure on Kenny Logan. Oogie broke the gain line several times last week and made two tries. More of the same will give Mark Denny something to think about too. Oogie's task is to smash and grab some space for Stuart Abbott to step into once the big number 12 and made his mark on an unimpressive Parma midfield.

The tactical swapping of our first choice players such as our captain, Lawrence Dallaglio and Alex King this week has kept our powder dry. LBND will relish wreaking havoc on Parma's back row from his blindside position of old whilst Paul Volley and Peter Scrivener sweep up in the open.

Josh Lewsey reverts to fullback having been highly effective on the wing. Both he and Shane Roiser have had a terrific start to the season, keeping Kenny Logan on the sidelines. CO must be disappointed not to have made the England squad this autumn -- perhaps he was overlooked by Clive Woodward because he is viewed as a utility player who does not take place kicks. Adding this string to his bow would help his cause.

Wasps:

15 Josh Lewsey; 14 Shane Roiser, 13 Stuart Abbott, 12 Ayoola Erinle, 11 John Rudd; 10 Alex King, 9 Rob Howley; 1 Darren Molloy, 2 Phil Greening, 3 Will Green, 4 Simon Shaw, 5 Richard Birkett, 6 Lawrence Dallaglio (Capt.), 7 Paul Volley, 8 Peter Scrivener.

Bench: 16 Martyn Wood, 17 Mark Van Gisbergen, 18 Kenny Logan, 19 Joe Beardshaw, 20 Mike McCarthy, 21 Ali Mckenzie, 22 Trevor Leota.

Overmach Parma:

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