Simon Shaw return can’t hide Wasps’ struggles from irate boo-boys

Chris Jones
2 Nov 2009

Tony Hanks described London Wasps' 15-9 defeat to Leeds as a “wake-up call” as his team were booed off the pitch at Adams Park yesterday. The return to action of Simon Shaw from a metatarsal injury was the only consolation for the Wasps faithful, who saw their team put in their worst performance of the season.

Wasps went into the match with aspirations of climbing up to second in the Guinness Premiership behind unbeaten leaders Saracens. However, they made too may errors and could only muster points through three penalties from Dave Walder.

That allowed bottom of the table Leeds to claim their first win of the campaign thanks to five penalties from Ceiron Thomas.

Wasps director of rugby Hanks said: “This has got to be considered a wake-up call. We have a disappointed, frustrated and angry changing room because we have not performed well, haven't reacted well to pressure. A bad day at the office needs to be analysed.”

Shaw's first appearance of the season, which came as a second-half replacement, was not able to inspire a fightback from Wasps but did raise hopes that he could be fit for England's Test against New Zealand on 21 November.

England begin their autumn international series against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday, when Ugo Monye will be pressed into service as the team's emergency full-back.

With London Irish's Delon Armitage recovering from shoulder surgery and Gloucester's Olly Morgan also sidelined, it will fall to Harlequins wing Monye to deal with Australia's kicking game.

He appeared at No15 in Quins' opening four fixtures, scoring two tries while Mike Brown was out injured, and will be expected to use his blistering pace to punish wayward Wallaby kicks.

Martin Johnson, the England team manager, has delayed naming his starting XV until tomorrow following the loss of Mike Tindall, the World Cup winning centre, with a hamstring injury which has forced yet another back line change.

No fewer than 13 of his original 32-strong Elite Player Squad are ruled out of the Wallabies match, which means that fly-half Jonny Wilkinson will be in charge of a back division that has never played together.

It is understood that Monye will be named at full-back, with Sale's Mark Cueto and Bath's Matt Banahan on the wings. The injury prone Dan Hipkiss, of Leicester, will take over from Tindall at outside centre with Shane Geraghty, in great form for Northampton, at inside centre.

Wilkinson, who missed all of England's matches last season due to injury, will make his first appearance at Twickenham since coming on as a replacement against Ireland in the 2008 Six Nations championship. He will be partnered by Danny Care, the Harlequins scrum-half.

Up front, Johnson is expected to ask Bath's David Wilson to start at tight head alongside Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley and Tim Payne, of London Wasps, at loose head. Leicester's Louis Deacon is favourite to continue at lock with captain Steve Borthwick, a combination that featured against Argentina in the summer.

James Haskell, now with Stade Francais is scheduled to fill the void at No8 created by Nick Easter's calf injury, with the Leicester pair of Tom Croft and Lewis Moody completing the back row.