Wasps choose Flutey's sting
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:42
Defending champions London Wasps have named England hopeful Riki Flutey at flyhalf for their opening match of the Guinness Premiership season, when they face London Irish at the Twickenham double header on Saturday.
The New Zealander, Flutey, who continues to fill the No.10 shirt in England superstar Danny Cipriani's injury enforced absence, forms a formidable halfback pairing with Irish international scrumhalf Eoin Reddan.
Wasps will be without new signing and legendary French flank Serge Betsen, but another Frenchman, hooker Raphael Ibanez, will captain the side.
Pat Barnard starts at tighthead prop, with former England captain Phil Vickery earning a place on the bench.
The pack includes an all England back row of James Haskell – who fills retired Lawrence Dallaglio's boots at No.8 – Joe Worsley and Tom Rees.
With Fraser Waters departed for Italy, Josh Lewsey starts at inside centre, with youngster Dom Waldouck outside him and a back three consisting of wings Paul Sackey, Tom Voyce and Mark Van Gisbergen at fullback.
Alongside Cipriani, Wasps have yet to welcome back to full fitness long term injury victim Dave Walder and two of their new signings Mark Robinson and Betsen.
Wasps' third new boy, Australian youngster Lachlan Mitchell, is on the bench.
The defending champions will hope to continue their dominant from on the domestic scene.
The last 10 season of Premiership action have seen three clubs - Leicester, Wasps and Sale Sharks - win the title.
Newcastle, who won in 1998, is the last club outside these three to claim a title.
Sale won silverware in 2006, but every other Premiership season has seen Leicester or Wasps prevail.
And the advent of play-offs has underlined their dominance, with all six Twickenham grand finals seeing one - or both - of Wasps and Tigers contesting silverware.
London Wasps: 15 Mark
Van Gisbergen, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Dominic Waldouck, 12 Josh Lewsey, 11 Tom Voyce, 10 Riki Flutey, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 James Haskell, 7 Tom Rees, 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Richard Birkett, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Pat Barnard, 2 Raphael Ibanez (captain), 1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Phil Vickery, 18 Tom Palmer, 19 John Hart, 20 Joe Simpson, 21 Jeremy Staunton, 22 Lachlan Mitchell.
Date: Saturday, September 6
Venue: Twickenham, London
Kick-off: 14.30 (13.30 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Small
Touch judges: David Kurk, Andy Watson
TMO: Clive Leeke
