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GP Preview: Newcastle Leaves Wor Jonny at Home

Once Was Wasp
By Vespasian November 22 2007
London Wasps resume their Guinness Premiership programme with a visit from Newcastle Falcons. The Geordie lads are on a four-game roll, following recent successes in the European Challenge Cup and the EDF Cup. However, they'll not be much happier than Wasps with their GP form, having lost at home to Bath in October, 20-33.

Ian McGeechan rotates the forwards who gave Llanelli a beasting last weekend. Lawrence Dallaglio and Simon Shaw get splinters and Raphael Ibanez sits out this contest, as the pack shuffles to stay fresh. A fourth win on the bounce is important, as Wasps are 11 points of the play-off places after six rounds of the Guinness Premiership, with only one win and a draw to show so far.

Newcastle are making a great deal of the number of England qualified players in their team. For our friends from the north's edification, London Wasps can boast a similar philosophy: 18 England qualified Wasps and no fewer than 11 ex-Wasps U21/Youth/Academy players (with thanks to Dixie).

Our injury list shows a forward bias, making recent results all the more remarkable. Not considered are: Barnard, Buckland, French, Palmer, Vickery, Worsley, McMillan.

Newcastle have had to leave their World Cup finalists, Jonny Wilkinson and Toby Flood at home. Matthew Tait is at inside centre, though.

Their injury list has a few nuggets too: Matt Burke (knee), Ross Beattie (shoulder), Brent Wilson (hamstring), Russell Winter (neck), James Hoyle (hip), Jonny Wilkinson (ankle), Toby Flood (ankle), Alex Tait (hamstring), Andy Buist (shoulder).

Prediction: Wasps to dominate by nine. A bonus point will be a tough call, though.

London Wasps:

15 Mark Van Gisbergen; 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Fraser Waters, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Tom Voyce; 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Eoin Reddan (Capt.); 1 Tim Payne, 2 Joe Ward, 3 Nick Adams, 4 Richard Birkett, 5 George Skivington, 6 James Haskell, 7 Tom Rees, 8 John Hart

Bench: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Michael Holford, 18 Simon Shaw, 19 Lawrence Dallaglio, 20 Simon Amor, 21 Josh Lewsey, 22 Dan Leo 

Newcastle Falcons:

15 Tom May; 14 Ollie Phillips, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Jamie Noon, 11 John Rudd; 10 Steve Jones, 9 James Grindal; 1 Jon Golding, 2 Matt Thompson, 3 David Wilson, 4 Andy Perry, 5 Mark Sorenson, 6 Geoff Parling, 7 Ben Woods, 8 Phil Dowson (Capt.)

Bench: 16 Andy Long, 17 Joe McDonnell, 18 Sean Tomes, 19 Eni Gesinde, 20 Lee Dickson, 21 Tim Visser, 22 Tom Dillon

 

 

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Re: GP Preview: Newcastle Leaves Wor Jonny at Home
Posted by: PhilH (IP Logged)
Date: 2007:11:22:21:38:05

Good to see you back Rhino.

Phil

http://pws.prserv.net/phil-harrison/wasps/wasps_signature.jpg

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