8:10am Friday 3rd September 2010
By Alan Feldberg
WASPS will play their first match of the new season in front of more than 70,000 fans at Twickenham tomorrow, and they’re licking their lips at the prospect.
The black and golds have only had two warm-up matches to fine-tune things but 12 tries – six apiece against Leinster and Glasgow – is compelling evidence that they are good to go.
Director of rugby Tony Hanks says: “We’re ready to play. A lot of the time you get to this point and think, gee, we could do with two or three more weeks.
“But we’re ready to go into competition now and we’re really looking forward to it.”
Preparations have gone well. An improved showing at the Middlesex Sevens took them to the semi-finals before 2008 Heineken Cup winners Leinster were put to the sword in a 41-6 drubbing in Ireland.
To prove that wasn’t a one-off, Wasps then picked Glasgow apart in a 36-17 victory on their return to Adams Park last Saturday.
Hanks said: “We made a decision to only play two games this year and I’m pleased that most of the guys we wanted to play rugby have played rugby.
“We’ll give ourselves a pass mark and we’re in a nice position, but results during pre-season don’t really mean a lot, you’re looking at the performance, and it doesn’t mean anything unless we transfer it to the first game of the season.”
And in Harlequins they have ideal opponents.
A healthy rivalry exists between the two clubs and although Wasps beat them home and away last season (both games were actually played at Twickenham), Hanks is expecting a fierce test.
He said: “We’re under no illusions. This week is going to very, very tough.
“Harlequins have also had a pretty good pre-season and they’re fit and healthy. They’ve got an experienced back row, they make it very tough at the breakdown and that axis they’ve got at 8, 9 and 10 – with Danny Care, Nick Easter and Nick Evans – is very good.
“There are some really nice match ups and it’s set up to be some game.
“Playing Quins in anything is enough, but it’s the first game of the season.
“Then you throw in Twickenham, you throw in 70,000 people – if we get the weather then it will be perfect.”
Despite a spate of injuries, Wasps actually started last season well. Hanks says they’re better now.
He said: “We got off to a good start last year by winning the first three.
“But as a squad we’re stronger this season and we’ve got to make sure we get off to a similar start this time.”
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