WASPS SHORN OF LIONS

By Vespasian
September 5 2009

London Wasps enter their curtain raiser with Harlequins a very different team from the one that struggled with the ELVs last season. Ian McGeechan paid for a sabbatical year away with the Lions with his job as Tony Hanks takes charge for the first time in his own right. With Simon Shaw rested following his South African travails, not one of Nigel Melville's former charges Wasps will take the field. The final vestiges of the nineties have been removed from today's scene. A completely new back line is introduced, save for Warren Gatland's Waikato man, Mark Van Gisbergen.

Traditionally first day rustiness and nerves take their toll on this fixture at Twickenham. Even with perfect running weather in evidence, it is likely that the new wingers will see little ball as the ball gets bogged down in endless midfield traffic.

For Quins, Ugo Monye pops up at fullback, free from the shackles of the England EPS regs that have regularly shorn Wasps of our international players. It may give him the space to pick an attacking line, if the ball ever finds him, but Wasps may take solace that he shouldn't find himself at the end of a Hail Mary bomb again.

The addition of a 2nd prop to the bench should mean that the war of attrition extends well beyond the 70th minute. Both teams talk a good tactical fight, but don't expect many tries today. And don't expect TV2 or David Lemi to take the spotlight away from Danny Cipriani.

Wasps will be happy to squeak a win. Quins will be happy just to get the Fourth Estate's monkey off their collective backs. And just think, if Wasps don't give any penalties away, there won't be any need for Quins' artifices, will there?

London Wasps: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen; 14 Tom Varndell, 13 Ben Jacobs, 12 Steve Kefu, 11 David Lemi; 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Joe Simpson; 1 Tim Payne, 2 Rob Webber, 3 Gabriel Bocca, 4 George Skivington, 5 Richard Birkett, 6 John Hart, 7 Serge Betsen (capt.), 8 Dan Ward-Smith

Bench: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Ben Broster, 18 Tom French, 19 Dan Leo, 20 Hugo Ellis, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Dave Walder, 23 Lachlan Mitchell

Queens: 15 Ugo Monye; 14 David Strettle, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Gonzalo Camacho; 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care; 1 Ceri Jones, 2 Gary Botha, 3 Mark Lambert, 4 James Percival, 5 George Robson, 6 Chris Robshaw, 7 Will Skinner (capt.), 8 Nick Easter

Bench: 16 Tani Fuga, 17 Aston Croall, 18 John Andress, 19 Jim Evans, 20 Tom Guest, 21 Steve So'oialo, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 George Lowe