By Peter Snow's swingometer
October 24 2003

London Wasps head off to Watford looking for a third consecutive win. Saracens' team is looking for inspiration. The swingometer is stuck fast on a comfortable win for London Wasps. Sorries' barometer appears, yet again, to be stuck on low pressure. Change refuses to register on the Sorries dial. In spite of bolstering an under-powered pack with the arrival of some southern seas specialists in the shape of Simon Raiwalui, Sorries captain, and ex-AB captain, Taine Randell, the other "Men-in-Black" still look like a paler shade of grey. However, just as it is too early to proclaim the Hardleywins or Barf as champions apparent, it is too early to write off Sorries just now. The poor lads have only played two home games, beating the aforementioned, rock-steady Queens and drawing against Tiggers.

Sorries also grabbed a losing bonus away to the Budgies. Ordinarily, the club would be confident of winning its home games. But Sorries team has to face Wasps without its talisman, Richard Hill, and without injured Thomas Castaignède and Nathan McAvoy. Squad rotation enables erstwhile Wasp, Andy Kershaw, to step up to the plate and face one of his mentors, Craig Dowd. The coal-face should be a keenly contested area on Sunday!

One is never sure whether the loss of Kyran Broken hinders Sorries. Judging by previous results, possibly not. The Wasps team is looking for its eighth straight victory over Sorries. That statistic alone ought to chill the home support to the bone. But if Wasps supporters think this will be easy, they'd better think again. Wray is on the warpath...

London Wasps: 15 Tom Voyce; 14 Shane Roiser, 13 Fraser Waters, 12 Mark Denney, 11 John Rudd; 10 Mark Van Gisbergen, 9 Peter Richards; 1 Tim Payne, 2 Phil Greening, 3 Craig Dowd (Capt.), 4 Simon Shaw, 5 Richard Birkett, 6 Paul Volley, 7 Jonny O’ Connor, 8 Ian Clarke

Bench: 16 Rob Howley, 17 Ayoola Erinle, 18 James Haskell, 19 Martin Purdy, 20 John Hart, 21 Alistair McKenzie, 22 Trevor Leota

Saracens: 15. Adryan Winnan; 14. Richard Haughton, 13. Ben Johnston, 12. Mark Bartholomuesz, 11. Darragh O'Mahony; 10. Andy Goode, 9. Dan Kirton; 1. Andy Kershaw, 2. Johnny Marsters, 3. Ben Broster, 4. Simon Raiwalui (Capt.), 5. Kris Chesney, 6. Tony Roques, 7. Ben Russell, 8. Taine Randell

Bench: 16. Joe Ross, 17. Emiliano Bergamaschi, 18. Ben Skirving, 19. Ryan Peacey, 20. Steven Sparks, 21. Patrick Phibbs, 22. Paul Bailey