By Barney Burnham
March 2 2006

Ian McGeechan, Shaun Edwards and Lawrence Dallaglio answered questions from the press at Twyford Avenue this morning, ahead of Saturday's Powergen Cup semifinal against Leicester, at the Millennium Stadium. Geech was asked if he had picked his team yet. "No." was the reply. When asked when it would be announced, he replied: "Later this week!" He was also asked whether he'd come under any pressure not to field his international players. He said that Andy Robinson and Eddie O'Sullivan had both been very cooperative, with O'Sullivan even releasing Jonny O'Connor and Eoin Reddan early. He also said that this was a competition which he had always taken seriously - hence the fact that we had fielded strong sides in the qualifying games. He was delighted with last Sunday's performance against Sale, which had given everybody a lift and that this had been seen in this week's training.

Shaun was asked to sum up Wasps-Leicester clashes. He said that they were always very physical and that you won't beat Leicester unless you beat them physically.He referred back to last season's games, noting that they'd beaten us up physically at Welford Road, but that we had won the game that mattered, the final at Twickenham. When asked about Leicester's strengths, he remarked that they were expert at committing a lot of bodies to the breakdowns. He observed that it was his understanding that they should remain on their feet, and that he hoped that area of the game would be refereed properly on Saturday.

Lawrence pointed out that, with only three club trophies to go for, the Powergen should always be the easiest to get, since you can win it in five games. He added that we had been lucky to have two home games at the qualifying stage.

He was asked about switching from club to country, during the 6 Nations, particularly with regard to coming home early, so that he (and others) could turn out for Wasps, the day after England games. He said that you simply had to cope, then commented that our international contingent was very high, and that Raph Ibanez is now embarking upon the second stage of his international career. He said the England part of last weekend had been extremely frustrating and that he had been desperate to get back on to the field as soon as possible, in the wake of the defeat against Scotland. The win against Sale had meant a lot and meant that a bad weekend had ended on a high note.

One questioner brought up the various one-to-one battles we can expect on Saturday. It may disappoint Leicester fans, who are convinced that Lawrence is conducting a one-man PR campaign against Martin Corry, but no names were mentioned, and he simply said that it was a Wasps against Leicester game and that all the one-to-ones will important.

On his own form, he said he felt he still had some way to go before he reaches his top form. He feels that now is the time to find it, and that, in true Wasps fashion, everybody would hit top gear for the last six to seven weeks of the season, which is when it matters most. He was asked whether he still had pins in the leg and ankle, following his Lions injury. He pointed out that it was, in fact, a plate. He didn't know when it would be coming out, saying that it was a matter for the Wasps medical staff, but he expects it to come out this summer. He also said that he felt its removal would be a great help.

He was asked whether it sets off security alarms, at airport metal detectors, and replied: "No, only what's in my pockets!"

When asked "How long is it?", he grinned, paused, and said suggestively: "Long enough."

At this point, the press conference ended, amidst widespread hilarity.