London Irish unlikely to do Wasps any seasonal favours

LONDON IRISH are promising a bumper New Year’s Eve crowd the chance to kick off their celebrations early against Wasps at the Madejski today.

And Wasps are not expecting any kind of seasonal hospitality as they take on a side Ian McGeechan rates as the hottest in the Guinness Premiership.

London Irish have risen to third place in the table. They have suffered one defeat in their last 10 games and are unbeaten at home since October.

The notoriously boisterous Exiles fans are being advised to arrive at fortress Madejski 90 minutes early to ensure they get their tickets and indulge in the pre-match entertainment being laid on.

The on-field fare promises to be equally as enticing. Wasps were the last side to win at the Madejski - a 30-26 victory in the Powergen Cup - but McGeechan has steeled his side for a major challenge.

“Today we are playing probably the in-form side in the Premiership at the moment,” he said.

“London Irish are a strong team, as their good run of results has shown, and they will be a very big challenge for us away from home.”

Joe Worsley returns to action after recovering from a knee injury as one of three personnel changes made by McGeechan after their Boxing Day win over Gloucester.

John Hart moves from the back row to replace rested lock Simon Shaw while new signing Justin Va’a makes his debut at tight-head. Jeremy Staunton comes in at fly-half for the rested Alex King.

“The five-day turn-around after Boxing Day is very tight, and we wanted to allow some players to recover fully from the Gloucester game,” said McGeechan.

London Irish face their second London derby in a week and boss Brian Smith has dug deep into his resources to make 12 changes to the side that started Tuesday’s 20-19 victory over Saracens.

Prop Faan Rautenbach is the only forward to keep his place while blind-side flanker Richard Thorpe and fly-half Ross Laidlaw make their Premiership debuts.

“One London derby match at any point in the season is demanding enough for the players and management of the teams involved, but to have two in the space of four days has tested the real depth of resources in our squad,” said Smith.

“It is pleasing that all the players have put their hands up for selection during the past month with fine performances in both cup competitions and on Tuesday last in the league. There is lots of self-belief, both individual and collective, at present and all of it will be needed over the next four weeks starting today.”

Elsewhere Gloucester tackle bottom side Leeds, while tomorrow Northampton take on the rapidly improving Bristol and Newcastle will wait until an early-morning fitness test before deciding whether Jonny Wilkinson is fit for the Falcons’ clash with Worcester.

Leicester head coach Pat Howard has reacted to his team’s lame performance at Bristol by making wholesale changes for Monday’s clash against Saracens.

Leon Lloyd, Ollie Smith, Geordan Murphy, Andy Goode, Austin Healey, Graham Rowntree, George Chuter, Ben Kay, Shane Jennings and Martin Corry all return to the starting line-up.