By Peter Snow's swingometer
October 10 2003

Here we go again. London Wasps enters the Rugby World Cup period on a bit of a downer. The stark facts read: just one win from four starts. The cure? Apparently a trip to Edgely Park on the outskirts of Manchester to take on another stuttering team, Sale. What is the chief reason for for London Wasps indistinguished start? Is it the absence of their venerable leader, Lawrence Dallaglio? And wouldn't that Irritible Dank Syndrome character like some of LBND's brio in his black pool right now! The final analysis, however, reveals a pivotal lack of direction in London Wasps game plan. Pretty much the same lack of direction that has hampered the blue rinse party for six years.

As the missus of Stirling Kenny says, "Form is temporary, class is permanent." The real reason for London Wasps habitual hesitancy in the red zone is the absence of chief architect, stand-off Alex King. Wasps has wasted heaps of possession so far this season without the playmaker-general. Wasps miss the guy who calls the shots close to the gain-line. Without him, the scoreboard just has not been ticking over. Pressure means points mean pressure. Only a poor Leeds Tykes team has felt the weight of a wasps majority this term.

Wasps supremo, Warren Gatland is quoted in the Times: the trip to Sale "has become a pretty important game for us." A simple statement of fact. Wasps need to perform, no excuses. Hence the reshuffle in the back row and the re-emergence of a hooker. Let's hope he can throw-in okay. Injuries to to Will Green and Ayoola Erinle mean options are limited.

But what of the Sale team? It was stumped with a run of one draw and four defeats at the end of last term, denying the club of a deserved play-off place. One of those defeats came at home to Wasps in the penultimate game of the season, a 9-16 reverse during which both Sale and Wasps spurned scoring chances. Sale's capitulation was largely due to the absence of their own playmaker, Charlie Hodgson, and he is still out.

Wasps won't be taking his continuing absence for granted tonight, however. Braam Van Straaten, has crossed the Pennines and brings years of experience with him. We all remember his capacity for dead ball kicking from his time with Leeds Tykes. No penalties, Wasps, and remember, Sale's backs are deadly given an inch.

This season Sale has been competitive but a lack of precision has held them to only one win, over a strong but green Leicester team. Van Sraaten was missing from Sale's first two fixtures. If he had played, his boot would have held sway and Sale would be at the top of the pile.

Any cause to give Wasps hope? During the past two weeks a buoyant Bath has tackled the life out of both Wasps and Sale and beaten them both. Wasps' performance was only marginally off the pace though. Just a slight improvement in control could be the key to beating Sale.

However, Gats knows that Wasps must take on Sale up front and score at all opportunities. Otherwise the game will go as the swingometer hints -- with home advantage carrying the day.

And as for that IDS fellah -- any fule no that it is "pump up the volume." Pay attention, Wasps, or you'll be trotting out the Dank one's "crisis, what crisis?" mantra.

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

Bench: 16 Peter Richards, 17 Michael Roberts, 18 Ian Clarke, 19 Mark Lock, 20 Martin Purdy, 21 Alistair McKenzie, 22 Trevor Leota

Sale: 15 Vaughan Going; 14 Mark Cueto, 13 Graeme Bond, 12 Chris Mayor, 11 Steve Hanley; 10 Braam Van Straaten, 9 Nick Walshe; 1 Andrew Sheridan, 2 Andy Titterrell, 3 Stuart Turner, 4 Iain Fullarton, 5 Dean Schofield, 6 Alex Sanderson, 7 Stuart Pinkerton, 8 Chris Jones

Bench: Kevin Yates, Matt Cairns, Barry Stewart, Magnus Lund, Richard Wigglesworth, Paul Devlin, James Hoyle.

Kick-off: 19.45 today, Friday.