Leota back for Wasps against Biarritz

Biarritz unchanged

London Wasps have made several changes to the team that had so much fun scoring tries against Calvisano on Sunday last as they prepare to take on Biarritz in Biarritz in perhaps the most telling Pool 1 clash of the Heineken Cup's Round 6 matches.

Trevor Leota, the powerful Samoan with the obvious hairdo, comes into the hooking berth in the place of Ben Gotting. Coach Warren Gatland explained the move: "I've included Trevor in the starting fifteen for the extra strength and weight he will bring to the pack. There is no doubt that his size and experience will be an added benefit when facing a ferocious pack like Biarritz."

The "ferocious pack" of Biarritz was well tamed by the Tigers in the second half last weekend, but then the Tigers' pack also tamed the Wasps.

It is not the only change as the Wasps strengthen their team for the Biarritz crunch. Back from injury Ayoola Erinle comes in at outside centre leaving Josh Lewsey free to move back out to the right wing with Tom Voyce returning more happily to the left wing.

The halfbacks Alex King and Matt Dawson come back from their weekend off, leaving James Brooks and Harry Biljon to rest on the bench. Dawson, recalled to England, will have that as added zest to his already competitive nature.

In the other change in the pack Will Green, who came on as a substitute on Sunday, starts this weekend, swapping his place on the bench with Tim Payne.

About the match Gatland said: "Now that our destiny is again in our own hands, I feel we have the experience and skills to get us through. We've won some big games away from home over the past few seasons, at Perpignan, Munster, Bath and Gloucester, and we have shown we can thrive in those sorts of intimidating environments.

Biarritz have beaten Leicester twice this season, something we have failed to do on three occasions since November, in back to back Heineken Cup fixtures and the Zurich Premiership. We know they have a big strong pack and the backs to finish many sides off. However, we are as prepared as we can be for whatever they throw at us.

Winning will be tough. Scoring four tries will be even tougher, but we have the players and the mental toughness to cope with the task at hand.
Patrice Lagisquet the Biarritz coach, could not hide his excitement and impatience as he waited for the big clash with the Wasps. He has chosen exactly the same starting team and bench as that which so dramatically beat the Tigers in Leicester last Sunday, when Biarritz played so skilfully in the first half and defended so manfully in the second.

Teams:

London Wasps: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen, 14 Josh Lewsey, 13 Ayoola Erinle, 12 Stuart Abbott, 11 Tom Voyce, 10 Alex King, 9 Matt Dawson, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (captain), 7 Jonny O' Connor, 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Richard Birkett, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Will Green, 2 Trevor Leota, 1 Craig Dowd
Replacements: 16 Ben Gotting, 17 Tim Payne, 18 Tom Rees, 19 John Hart, 20 Harvey Biljon, 21 James Brooks, 22 Rob Hoadley

Biarritz: 15 Nicolas Brusque, 14 Philippe Bidabe, 13 Thibault Lacroix, 12 Federico Martin Aramburu, 11 Jimmy Marlu, 10 Damien Traille, 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Thomas Lièvremont (captain), 7 Imanol Harinordoquy, 6 Serge Betsen, 5 Olivier Olibeau, 4 Jérôme Thion, 3 Denis Avril, 2 Benoît August, 1 Petru Vladimir Balan
Replacements: 16 Kasiano Lealamanua, 17 Jean-Michel Gonzalez, 18 Benoît Lecouls, 19 David Couzinet, 20 Christophe Milheres, 21 Julien Dupuy, 22 Benjamin Dambielle,

Date: Saturday, 15 January 2005
Kick-off: 16.00
Venue: Parc des Sports Aquiléra, Biarritz
Expected weather conditions: Partly cloudy with a high of 13°C, dropping to 10°C, and a wind of 21 km/h, dropping to 18 km/h
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Touch judges: Ali McKay, Ger English (both Ireland)
Television match official: Brian Stirling (Ireland)
Match commissioner: René Hourquet (France)