Wasps searching for stand-in Dallaglio

London Wasps have still not decided who will take over as captain from the injured Lawrence Dallaglio, director Nigel Melville admitted today.

The stand-in skipper may have to do the job for all of next season because it is not yet certain when Dallaglio will have recovered from the knee injury which brought an early end to his Lions tour this summer.

Centre Mark Denney led Wasps in their first pre-season match - a 35-5 defeat against Munster in Limerick last night - and other candidates will be tried before the start of the Zurich Premiership on 1 September.

Melville says: "We are looking for somebody who understands what we are trying to achieve."

Dallaglio is missing the short visit to Ireland where Wasps are training this week before the club's second game against Bath on Monday.

Melville fielded seven new players last night including the All Blacks prop Craig Dowd, who was brought on for the last 20 minutes.

"Craig is in very good shape and has been training hard to get himself ready for the new season here," said Melville.

He was pleased with the appearance of back-row forward Peter Scrivener, who played his first full game for more than a year last night after a succession of injuries.