Wasps Throw Confident Shapes

There was a definite air of confidence about the London Wasps end of the top table when the sides for Sunday’s Heineken Cup final were formally announced at the City West Hotel in Saggart Co Dublin.

Former Ireland coach, the London Wasps supremo, Warren Gatland looked totally at ease sitting beside his team captain Lawrence D’Allaglio and after the respective coaches had named unchanged sides, it was to this pair that most of the media questions were addressed and it was very difficult to find any journalist present ho believed in anything other than a Wasps victory on Sunday next.

After the parties had mouthed the usual platitudes, D’Allaglio and Munster captain Jim Williams were then taken outside for the obligatory photo call. They returned inside for some TV and Radio interview and then departed, D’Allaglio and Gatland for Dublin Airport, Williams and Alan Gaffney for Cork and Limerick respectively.

The Munster party’s trip was facilitated by ERC who chartered a helicopter to take them from training at Thomond Park and return them to whence they came.

ERC Chief Executive Derek McGrath kicked off proceedings and then the two coaches announced their sides – Gaffney first – with both announcing unchanged selections. Gatland, when asked about the injury scare to Simon Shaw, stressed he had no worries whatsoever about his 6’8 lock who suffered bruised ribs in last weekend’s clash with Leeds Tykes.

Gatland also believes we’re going to get a great game of rugby with two teams going out there and actually trying to play rugby.
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