RUGBY: AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINAL:ENGLAND CENTRE Riki Flutey admits Wasps are "hurting" ahead of tonight's Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final clash against London rivals Harlequins. Flutey and company are experiencing, by their own high standards, a dismal season.
Wasps currently lie eighth in the English Premiership with no hope of claiming a title play-off place, while their Heineken Cup campaign ended through a pool stage exit almost three months ago.
Only the Challenge Cup remains for Flutey and company to salvage something this term, with the tournament winners claiming silverware and prized Heineken qualification.
“It is going to be a huge match and a possible avenue to qualify for next season’s Heineken Cup,” he said, ahead of the Twickenham Stoop encounter.
“We are hurting after our last couple of defeats, and there is a short turnaround for us after playing last Sunday, but we have to put that behind us and concentrate on a hugely-important tie.”
Current form, though, suggests a Harlequins’ win, plus the fact they have beaten Wasps twice and drawn with them once this season.
A last-four encounter away to Brive or Munster later this month looms for the winners, while tonight’s other quarter-final sees Stade Francais take on Montpellier at Stade Charlety (7.45, Irish time).
Harlequins head coach John Kingston said: “When you look at the quality of the teams involved, it is far from a subsidiary competition. It is a very big competition and there are some very big sides left in it. Wasps are a very stubborn group and work hard for each other. They have had their ups and downs over recent weeks, but what you know about Wasps is that they always give you a tough match.”
Harlequins are without prop Joe Marler, who is serving a two-week ban after being sent off for punching Leicester’s Marcos Ayerza last weekend, so the experienced Ceri Jones deputises.
An other enforced change sees flanker Chris Robshaw absent due to a deep cut suffered to his knee against Tigers, meaning a start for Will Skinner, with Nick Easter taking over from Robshaw as skipper. Wasps, show four changes from the side beaten 25-12 by London Irish. Ben Jacobs replaces centre Dominic Waldouck, with Richard Haughton returning on the wing. In the pack, prop Ben Broster gains a call-up and there is a first European start for secondrow Joe Launchbury.
Thirteen points from fly-half Brock James saw Clermont Auvergne prevail 23-13 over La Rochelle in last night’s first quarter-final.
