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| McGeechan's men ready for Twickenham test |
| 5 September 2008, 12:45 pm |
| By Sean Bridger |
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| London Wasps will open proceedings at Twickenham tomorrow as the 2008/09 season gets underway at the London Double Header. Facing London Irish in the opening game, Director of Rugby Ian McGeechan, has named an experienced side, eager to start their campaign with a win on the same turf they collected their title back in May. |
In his first official outing at the helm, Raphael Ibanez will captain a side which includes 17 of the players who featured in Wasps Guinness Premiership final outing.
Littered with 11 England and England Saxons squad members, as well Irish International Eoin Reddan, Wasps enter into the game on the back of a tough pre-season campaign facing Dax, Edinburgh and Llanelli. With new signings Serge Betsen and Mark Robinson unavailable for selection following injuries picked up in the pre-season action, Lachlan Mitchell, named on the bench, is the only new face in Wasps line up however young talents Dominic Waldouck and Joe Simpson - IRB World Player nominee - highlight an integration of youth and experience amongst the 22.
Looking ahead to the game, McGeechan said,
"The London Double Header provides supporters with a great rugby occasion and a fantastic opener to 2008/09. Returning to Twickenham we are of course reminded of a fantastic finish to last season, but our focus on Saturday will be solely based on the task ahead. The appointment of new captain Raphael Ibanez marks the beginning of a new era for the club and our challenge will be to maintain the standard on display at the close of last season.
"As ever we will be searching for honours in all three competitions and a good start to the season will be crucial to our campaign, especially as we anticipate such a depletion of our squad through the international period.
"We have undergone a successful pre-season campaign with three tough games against solid opponents, which has offered the full squad valuable game time ahead of the challenge of a new season. In London Irish we face a well organized and inventive opponent which means we are going to have to produce a top performance. We know we have a highly competitive game ahead of us and for both sides and those watching from the stands, it should be a great opening to the Guinness Premiership."
London Wasps team to face London Irish on Saturday 6th September, KO 2.30PM at Twickenham are:
15. Mark Van Gisbergen, 14. Paul Sackey, 13. Dominic Waldouck, 12. Josh Lewsey, 11. Tom Voyce, 10 Riki Flutey, 9. Eoin Reddan, 1. Tim Payne, 2. Raphael Ibanez(C), 3. Pat Barnard, 4. Simon Shaw, 5. Richard Birkett, 6. Joe Worsley, 7. Tom Rees, 8. James Haskell
Replacements: 16. Rob Webber, 17. Phil Vickery, 18. Tom Palmer, 19. John Hart, 20. Joe Simpson, 21. Jeremy Staunton, 22 Lachlan Mitchell |
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