Gibbs: Prepare for a Wasps backlash

13 April 2012

Wales centre Scott Gibbs has warned his Swansea squad to expect a backlash from London Wasps when the Heineken European Cup resumes with their pool match at Loftus Road on Sunday.

Swansea romped home 54-28 in October, but Gibbs reckons this will count for little because he believes Wasps have changed so much in the meantime.

Gibbs revealed: "Lawrence Dallaglio said after our match at Swansea that it had been one of his most sobering experiences and I know he will want to put that right along with the rest of his team.

"The pride of the man will determine Wasps' attitude.

"We think Wasps will really be up for it. Their results in the league show how well they are going and with the sort of players they have, they look very dangerous."

Gibbs, who hits 30 this month, is in line to win his 50th cap for Wales against England at Cardiff in the opening match in the Six Nations' Championship on 3 February. But Gibbs and Swansea think this is their time to strike for European glory.

They took a look at their own assets this season and decided that this may be their year, even though they had under-performed in Europe in previous challenges.

Swansea are now unbeaten in 14 games stretching back to 16 September.

Wasps await fitness tests tomorrow on props Darren Molloy and Will Green, which means Andy Le Chevalier and Elliott Webb stand by.

Ireland centre Rob Henderson is back after a shoulder operation and Paul Sampson continues at full-back with Josh Lewsey still unfit.

Wasps cannot progress in Europe, even if they beat Swansea and final pool opponents L'Aquila.

Director Nigel Melville said: "When we have finished in Europe, our next league game is not until 10 February which is a long while to wait."

Saracens can reach the quarter-finals if they are one of the best two losing teams, but they have a demanding finish as they face Toulouse at Vicarage Road on Sunday and then Ulster in Belfast a week tonight.

Saracens' director of rugby Francois Pienaar admitted: "We will look at what Cardiff do against Ulster tonight because they need to win to qualify and then just focus on the Toulouse game. Our aim is to win and score a lot of points, which will help."

Pienaar will finalise the Saracens line-up on the morning of the match.

Fitness checks are needed on club captain Kyran Bracken, who has a dead leg, prop Richard Wallace, who has flu, and lock Scott Murray, struggling with a knee problem.

Pienaar added: "We will just leave things as late as possible.

"If we lose experienced players, it is a problem because they contribute so much in terms of communication." Leicester and Gloucester are the best placed English clubs for places in the last eight with key tests tomorrow.

Leicester are at French club Pau, while Gloucester are home to Llanelli, last year's semi-finalists.

In the European Shield, London Irish go to Brive in central France where victory will put them into the quarter finals.

Irish director of rugby Dick Best, who has just signed a new four-year contract, said: "This is going to be a real game, but if we can win this one and the final game against Piacenza we will have a home match in the quarter-finals."

Harlequins are also in France on Shield business. Opponents Perigeux have not won at home this season, but have run some of the top French opposition close. Quins are taking no chances and are playing their strongest available side.

EUROPEAN CUP - Sunday: Saracens v Toulouse, kick-off 1.15pm; Wasps v Swansea 3pm.

EUROPEAN SHIELD - Saturday: Perigeux v Harlequins 6.30pm; Sunday: Brive v London Irish 2pm.

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