Wasps rest Heineken hopes on win over Warriors

IRISH flanker Johnny O’Connor has been handed a place in the starting line up tonight as English champions Wasps put their Heineken Cup ambitions on the line against a fledgling Welsh team formed barely six months ago.

The Celtic Warriors, one of Welsh rugby's five regional combinations, tore up tournament form guides with a stunning 14-9 victory over Wasps at Wycombe's Causeway Stadium last Sunday.

And if they can repeat that feat on home soil in Bridgend, then Wasps' quarter-final ambitions will be left hanging by a thread.

Lawrence Dallaglio's men would have to win their final two Pool Six games - one of which is away against last season's beaten Heineken Cup finalists Perpignan and still hope that the Warriors and Perpignan drop points elsewhere.

"The return match is going to be a massive game," said Wasps scrum-half and former Wales captain Rob Howley.

"The result at the Causeway Stadium was a major upset for us, and we are disappointed in the way that we played.

"The Warriors were awesome in defence, and they had certainly done their homework on us.

"The weather was a major factor, and we will be hoping for a drier night as we are a positive side who like to keep the ball alive, but they made life very difficult for us around the tackle area."

Wasps boss Warren Gatland has reacted to the defeat by making several changes, with England World Cup centre Stuart Abbott starting his first game since Christmas, Mark van Gisbergen returning at full-back and prop Will Green and Irishman Johnny O'Connor handed starts up front.

The Warriors, whose remaining Pool Six fixtures after tonight are at home to Perpignan and away against group strugglers Calvisano, will make a late decision between scrum-halves Sililo Martens and Gareth Cooper, depending on weather conditions.

Prop Chris Horsman returns from injury to reinforce the replacements' bench, where either Robert Sidoli or Nathan Budgett will also feature following a final training run.

Northampton visit the Borders in Pool Four tonight, with coach Wayne Smith having shuffled his back division.

New Zealander Bruce Reihana moves from centre to full-back, Mark Tucker starts in midfield, and Smith goes with a half-back combination of Paul Grayson and Mark Robinson.

Nick Beal, Shane Drahm and Johnny Howard all drop to the bench, and there is still no return for injury-hit England World Cup star Matt Dawson, who has played just 28 minutes' rugby since returning home from Australia.

Saints are still kicking themselves for not securing a try-scoring bonus point in their 20-3 success against the Borders last weekend.

Another failure tonight could cost them dear when the group is ultimately decided through a Franklin's Gardens showdown against pool leaders Llanelli on February 1.

The Neath-Swansea Ospreys, bottom of Pool Two after three successive defeats, have injury concerns surrounding skipper Scott Gibbs and full-back Gavin Henson for tonight's clash against Heineken Cup holders Toulouse at The Gnoll.

In the meantime, Leicester boss Dean Richards has warned doubters not to write off his misfiring Tigers as they prepare for the crucial Heineken Cup showdown with Ulster.

Richards' men have won just one of their three outings in the competition and prop up the highly-competitive Pool One table but of their remaining games, two are at Welford Road.

None of the teams in the group which also includes Stade Francais and Gwent Dragons has won on their travels, giving Leicester hope they can still reach the knockout stages.

Ulster are the first opponents who must be overcome, and the Tigers are looking for a marked improvement following their crushing 33-0 defeat at Ravenhill last Sunday, arguably the club's lowest ebb in a season of disappointment.

Injuries and international call-ups have contributed to Leicester's woes - they are also struggling near the foot of the Zurich Premiership and helped to consign their aura of invincibility to history.

But Richards is confident his side still have the ability to put together a good European run as they look to emulate the glory years of 2001 and 2002 when they swept all before them to win the title over successive campaigns.

"You do get a dog of a season sometimes, but it's not over yet. There is still plenty left to play for," he declared.

"We're in with a shout this weekend we've got 22 players to put on the pitch and I'm confident that they can win the game.

"Everybody is writing us off at this moment in time and I don't think anyone should do that. All we need is a little break with injuries and I'm sure that will happen sometime soon.

"If we win our next three games then there is every chance that we can top our group.

"Ulster have to go to Stade Francais, Gwent must play at Ulster while Stade must come to us.

"Although we're bottom now, if we win our remaining games we can finish top."