By Sparkie
December 14 2002

Bordeaux plays host to Wasps as we defend a 37 point lead in the 2nd round of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup. Last weekend's 43-6 dismantling of a less than middling Bègles team gives us the poisoned chalice of a 3rd round encounter with Stade Francais after they've pulverised Quins. Bègles are bound to hound us on their pound as, in typical French fashion, they are unbeaten at home and pointless away. Last Sunday we bore witness to their ésprit de clôches as we rallied late and put the tie to bed early. Bègles showed glimpses of Gallic flair but Wasps' forward dynamos ultimately wore them down.

Invicta reminded us that Bègles' fullback, Richard Dourthe embodies what we may expect in Bordeaux. His performance at Adams' Park was a cameo of fleeting overconfidence which was subsequently submerged by his forceful, erratic character as the erstwhile international turned mad dog. He conceded a penalty try when almost decapitating a jinking Kinga and capped off his afternoon's work with a knee to Shawsie's side well after One Eye had scored. Perhaps his deserved yellow card will sideline him for the return.

However, Bègles are unlikely to wither on the vine on their home soil. We should expect their apparently underpowered pack to redouble its resistance to give their useful centre pairing a sturdier platform as they try to unpick our midfield. Wasps field an unchanged team for the most part; Muddy, who was not injured playing sevens for England (as the press seemed to think), may have pulled something late on and he makes way for Sonic at outside centre whilst Toothdoc stands in for Teflon on the left wing.

There will be a report later this week by one of the travellers, once the pastis vapours and haut médoc, cru bourgois hazes have cleared.

Wasps: 15 Mark van Gisbergen; 14 Josh Lewsey, 13 Stuart Abbott, 12 Mark Denney, 11 Shane Roiser; 10 Alex King, 9 Martyn Wood; 1 Craig Dowd, 2 Trevor Leota, 3 Will Green, 4 Simon Shaw, 5 Richard Birkett, 6 Lawrence Dallaglio, 7 Paul Volley, 8 Peter Scrivener.

16 Harvey Biljon, 17 Kenny Logan, 18 Ayoola Erinle, 19 Ben Gotting, 20 Mark Lock, 21 Joe Beardshaw, 22 Alistair McKenzie.

Bordeaux-Bègles (likely team): R Dourthe; R Macdonald, L Valbon, J MacLaren, G Brezoianu; L Arbizu, C Laussucq; M Perie, L Armand, G MacIlwham, T Stoltz, J C Bado, T Dusautoir, A Petrilli, S Azoulai.