Voyce: We like to be underdogs

8:36am Friday 16th May 2008

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WASPS are the bookmakers' favourites for the Guinness Premiership; it's a tag which doesn't suit them.

A perverse relish for adversity runs through the club and, individually and as a team, they like nothing better than proving people wrong.

Many of their greatest wins have been against the odds' affairs and this week Tom Voyce articulated Wasps' psychology.

He said: "We don't like being the favourites. Winning is never a bad thing but it's a concern when people think we're doing alright.

"We prefer to be underdogs, with our backs against the wall."

Unfortunately for Voyce and Wasps, ten wins in 11 Premiership games means they will be expected to beat Bath in the Guinness Premiership play-offs at Adams Park on Sunday.

It brings a different pressure.

Voyce said: "You've got your friends, family and supporters around you and you don't want to let anyone down.

"Fear of failure is the biggest fear of all. You don't want to see anyone lift up a cup that you could have lifted up and we'd kick ourselves if we didn't win."

A league double over Bath gives them every reason for confidence though.

Voyce said: "They've got some good ball carriers in Matt Stevens, Lee Mears and Danny Grewcock, and Olly Barkley and Butch James run the show from behind, but I don't think we're scared of Bath.

"Our game plan is working pretty well at the moment and we've just got to make sure that our heads are on. When we're on form and at our most aggressive, we can take on any side.

"But we've got to make sure we're at that level.

"We weren't for the first 20 minutes against Gloucester and it cost us dearly. We can't afford that again or we'll be punished."

Voyce has been something of a lucky omen for Wasps since joining the club from Sunday's opponents in 2003.

He hobbled out of the Premiership semi-final with a hamstring injury in 2006 - Wasps lost; he missed this year's EDF Energy Cup semi-final defeat to Leicester - Wasps lost.

He's finished five others and Wasps have won the lot.

And after coming back from a knee injury, he's in top shape.

He said: "I've shocked myself. I'm glad the work I did behind the scenes is coming out. I wanted a few people's opinions of me to change and with six tries in five games, I can't grumble.

"It takes a while to fire on all cylinders after a major injury. So if this is only 90 per cent, I'm looking forward to it when I get to 100."