Troubled Waters fit for Wasps

Wasps today received a major Heineken Cup final boost when centre Fraser Waters was declared fit for Sunday’s showdown against Toulouse at Twickenham.

Waters limped off with a hamstring injury during last weekend’s Zurich Premiership play-off victory over Northampton.

He was rated only a 50-50 prospect by Wasps rugby director Warren Gatland earlier this week, but he trained fully today and will take his place in midfield alongside Stuart Abbott.

Once Waters was given the green light, it enabled Gatland to name an unchanged team from the one which crushed Northampton 57-20 five days ago.

“It is a big plus that he was able to train full on today. It is a big lift for us all,” said Wasps skipper Lawrence Dallaglio.

Waters is one of seven players in the Wasps side who will tour New Zealand and Australia with England next month.

And the reigning English champions will go into Sunday’s final with high hopes of becoming England’s fourth European champions after Bath, Northampton and Leicester.

Toulouse, meanwhile, are seeking a record third European title.

As with Wasps, Toulouse head coach Guy Noves was able to select from strength, with French fly-half star Frederic Michalak chosen at scrum-half alongside the vastly-experienced Yann Delaigue.

Ireland international Trevor Brennan will line up in the second row alongside skipper Fabien Pelous, with Toulouse’s juggernaut pack guaranteeing a huge physical contest.

Some 72,000 tickets have been sold for the final, with tournament organisers confident that the remaining 2,000 will be snapped up.