Gloucester v Saracens
At Twickenham, 1pm live on Sky Sports
Gloucester beat Newcastle 23-16 at Kingsholm on Sunday to reach the third Zurich Wildcard final. The west country side have been involved in seven previous Twickenham finals, winning four, drawing one and losing only two - the 1990 cup final to Bath and the 2003 Zurich Premiership final to Wasps. Gloucester have won five of their past six post-season playoff matches.
Saracens, who reached the Zurich Wildcard final in 2002/03 only to lose out to Leicester, beat Worcester 28-10 at Vicarage Road on Friday night to qualify for this season's final.
Sarries have won on both their previous appearances at Twickenham - 48-18 over Wasps in the 1998 cup final and 13-11 over the same opponents in the Zurich Premiership opening day double-header on 4 September 2004.
Saracens have won both previous Zurich Premiership encounters with Gloucester this season - 14-9 at Vicarage Road in November and 14-13 at Kingsholm two weeks ago, to end a six match losing streak to the west countrymen in all competitions.
THIS SEASON'S ZURICH WILDCARD - SEMI FINALS
SARACENS (11) 28, WORCESTER WARRIORS (0) 10 (Vicarage Road)
Saracens: Thomas Castaignede; Ben Johnston(1T), Kevin Sorrell(1T), Dan Harris, Tevita Vaikona; Nicky Little(2PG), Mosese Rauluni; Nick Lloyd, Matt Cairns, Cobus Visagie; Simon Raiwalui, Iain Fullarton(1T); Ben Skirving, Richard Hill, Hugh Vyvyan.
Bench: Raphael Ibanez, Kevin Yates, Kris Chesney, Taine Randell, Kyran Bracken, Glen Jackson(2C, 1PG), Mark Bartholomeusz.
Replacements used: Yates for Visagie 31, Chesney for Raiwalui 43, Ibanez for Cairns 48, Jackson for Little 48, Raiwalui for Chesney 55, Randell for Lloyd 55, Bracken for Rauluni 59, Chesney for Fullarton 65, Bartholomeusz for Harris 65, Visagie for Yates 72.
Worcester Warriors: Thinus Delport; Giscard Pieters, Tommy Hayes(1T, 1C, 1PG), Thomas Lombard, Ben Hinshelwood; James Brown, Matt Powell; Tony Windo, Andre Van Niekerk, Neil Lyman; Richard Blaze, Craig Gillies; Neil Mason, Pat Sanderson (capt), Drew Hickey.
Bench: Steve Sparks, Phil Murphy, Ben Daly, Siaosi Vaili, Neil Cole, Daren O'Leary, Paul Sampson.
Replacements used: Sparks for Lyman 16, Daly for Sparks 32, Sampson for Pieters 43, O'Leary for Brown 50, Vaili for Van Niekerk 55, Cole for Powell 63.
Scoring sequence: 13' Little (PG) 3-0, 33' Sorrell (T) 8-0, 37' Little (PG) 11-0, 46' Hayes (PG) 11-3, 54' Jackson (PG) 14-3, 58' Fullarton (T) 19-3, Jackson (C) 21-3, 70' Johnston (T) 26-3, Jackson (C) 28-3, 75' Hayes (T&C) 28-10.
Referee: Steve Lander (England)
Attendance: 5168.
GLOUCESTER (7) 23, NEWCASTLE FALCONS (13) 16 (Kingsholm)
Gloucester: Brad Davies; Seti Kiole, James Simpson-Daniel, James Forrester(2T), James Bailey; Duncan McRae(1C, 2PG), Andy Gomarsall; Nick Wood, Mefin Davies, Gary Powell; Adam Eustace, Alex Brown; Jake Boer, Luke Narraway, Adam Balding (capt)(1T).
Bench: Olivier Azam, Terry Sigley, Peter Buxton, James Merriman, Alex Page, Ryan Lamb, Mark Foster.
Replacements used: Buxton for Narraway 43, Foster for Kiole 66, Sigley for Powell 75.
Newcastle Falcons: Matthew Burke(1T); Tom May, Jamie Noon, Mark Mayerhofler, Mathew Tait; Jonny Wilkinson(1C, 3PG), James Grindal; Galo Alvarez Quinones, Andy Long, Micky Ward; Luke Gross, Stuart Grimes; Colin Charvis (capt), Cory Harris, Phil Dowson.
Bench: Dave Wilson, Matt Thompson, Geoff Parling, Mike McCarthy, Mark Wilkinson, Dave Walder, Hall Charlton.
Replacements used: Wilson for Ward 31, Ward for Alvarez Quinones 52, Thompson for Long 56, Charlton for Grindal 56, McCarthy for Harris 58, Parling for Gross 66, Long for Wilson 76.
Scoring sequence: 15' J.Wilkinson (PG) 0-3, 29' Forrester (T) 5-3, McRae (C) 7-3, 32' J.Wilkinson (PG) 7-6, 35' Burke (T) 7-11, J.Wilkinson (C) 7-13, 44' Balding (T) 12-13, 49' J.Wilkinson (PG) 12-16, 57' Forrester (T) 17-16, 72' McRae (PG) 20-16, 77' McRae (PG) 23-16.
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)
Attendance: 6206.
PREVIOUS ZURICH WILDCARD FINALS
31 MAY 2003
LEICESTER TIGERS (9) 27, SARACENS (10) 20 (Franklin's Gardens) AET
Leicester Tigers: Tim Stimpson(1C, 4PG); John Holtby, Glenn Gelderbloom, Freddie Tuilagi, Leon Lloyd; Craig McMullen(1DG), Harry Ellis (Jamie Hamilton 66); Graham Rowntree (Perry Freshwater 91), Dorian West(1T) (George Chuter 91), Darren Garforth (Ricky Nebbett 75); Martin Johnson (capt), Ben Kay; Peter Short (Adam Balding 75), Neil Back(1T) (Will Skinner 66-72), Martin Corry.
Bench: George Chuter, Perry Freshwater, Ricky Nebbett, Will Skinner, Sam Vesty, Jamie Hamilton, Adam Balding.
Saracens: Tim Horan (Thomas Castaignede 62); Richard Haughton(1T), Ben Johnston, Kevin Sorrell, Darragh O'Mahony; Andy Goode(2C, 2PG), Kyran Bracken (capt) (Dan Kirton 92); David Flatman (Mike Storey 52), Matt Cairns (Robbie Russell 61), Christian Califano; Abdelatif Benazzi, Craig Yandell (Tony Roques 52); Kris Chesney, Richard Hill(1T), Ben Skirving (Ben T. Russell 49).
Bench: Mike Storey, Robbie Russell, Ben T. Russell, Tony Roques, Dan Kirton, Nicky Little, Thomas Castaignede.
Scoring sequence: 7' Stimpson (PG) 3-0, 9' Hill (T) 3-5, Goode (C) 3-7, 22' Stimpson (PG) 6-7, 32' Stimpson (PG) 9-7, 36' Goode (PG) 9-10, 60' West (T) 14-10, 68' McMullen (DG) 17-10, 80' Haughton (T) 17-15, Goode (C) 17-17, 80' Stimpson (PG) 20-17, 80+2' Goode (PG) 20-20, 96' Back (T) 25-20, Stimpson (C) 27-20.
Referee: Roy Maybank (England).
Attendance: 8066.
29 MAY 2004
LEICESTER TIGERS (10) 48, SALE SHARKS (10) 27 (Twickenham)
Leicester Tigers: Geordan Murphy (Steve Booth 78); Ollie Smith (John Holtby 51), Leon Lloyd(2T), Daryl Gibson(1T), Austin Healey(1T) (Freddie Tuilagi 51); Andy Goode(3C, 4PG), Harry Ellis; Darren Morris, George Chuter (Dorian West 68), Julian White; Martin Johnson (capt), Louis Deacon; Martin Corry (sin bin 75), Neil Back(2T), Will Johnson (Adam Balding 70).
Bench: Dorian West, Michael Holford, Ben Kay, Adam Balding, Steve Booth, John Holtby, Freddie Tuilagi.
Sale Sharks: Jason Robinson (capt)(1T); Mark Cueto, Chris Mayor, Jos Baxendell (Vaughan Going 57), Steve Hanley(1T) (James Moore 66); Charlie Hodgson(3C, 2PG), Richard Wigglesworth (Scott Benton 66); Barry Stewart, Andy Titterrell (Johnny Roddam 38), Stuart Turner (Martin Halsall 70); Christian Day, Dean Schofield (Phil Davies 57); Magnus Lund (Ben Lloyd 75), Hugh Perrett, Chris Jones.
Bench: Johnny Roddam, Martin Halsall, Phil Davies, Ben Lloyd, James Moore, Vaughan Going, Scott Benton(1T).
Scoring sequence: 3' Goode (PG) 0-3, 8' Goode (PG) 0-6, 21' Robinson (T) 5-6, Hodgson (C) 7-6, 29' Healey (T) 7-11, Goode (C) 7-13, 40' Gibson (T) 7-21, 40' Hodgson (PG) 10-21, 42' Lloyd (T) 10-26, Goode (C) 10-28, 48' Hodgson (PG) 13-28, 50' Back (T) 13-33, 61' Hanley (T) 18-33, Hodgson (C) 20-33, 63' Goode (PG) 20-36, 69' Back (T) 20-41, 80' Benton (T) 25-41, Hodgson (C) 27-41, 80' Lloyd (T) 27-46, Goode (C) 27-48.
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England).
Attendance: 30000
ZURICH PREMIERSHIP FINAL PREVIEW
Leicester Tigers v London Wasps
At Twickenham, 3.30pm live on Sky Sports
Leicester and Wasps clash for the fifth time this season with the Tigers winning both previous matches in the European Cup, as well as winning one and drawing the other when the two met in the Zurich Premiership. Leicester have won the last three finals they have played at Twickenham - 9-3 over Sale in the 1997 Pilkington Cup, 22-10 against Bath in the Zurich Championship in 2001, and 48-27 versus Sale in last season's Zurich Wildcard final.
Wasps are going for a third successive Zurich Premiership crown with a remarkable symmetry to their previous campaigns - in all three instances finishing 2nd in the league, playing and winning the Zurich Premiership semi-final match at High Wycombe, and for the past two seasons going on to win the grand final at Twickenham.
Wasps have won the last five finals they have played at Twickenham - back to back cup victories in 1998 and 1999, successive Premiership crowns in 2003 and 2004, as well as last season's Heineken Cup final against Toulouse. The Londoners did however lose 13-11 to Saracens at Twickenham in the opening day Zurich Premiership double header on 4 September 2004.
PREVIOUS ZURICH PREMIERSHIP FINALS
31 MAY 2003
GLOUCESTER (3) 3, LONDON WASPS (23) 39 (Twickenham)
Gloucester: Thinus Delport; Marcel Garvey (Clive Stuart-Smith 77), Terry Fanolua (Robert Todd 63), Henry Paul, James Simpson-Daniel; Ludovic Mercier(1PG) (Simon Amor 69), Andy Gomarsall (sin bin 42-53); Rodrigo Roncero, Olivier Azam, Phil Vickery; Adam Eustace, Mark Cornwell (Rob Fidler 40); Jake Boer (capt), Andy Hazell, Junior Paramore (Peter Buxton 57).
Bench: Clive Stuart-Smith, Simon Amor, Robert Todd, Chris Collins, Andy Deacon, Rob Fidler, Peter Buxton.
London Wasps: Mark Van Gisbergen (Martyn Wood 77); Josh Lewsey(2T), Fraser Waters (Ayoola Erinle 28-34), Stuart Abbott (Mark Denney 69), Kenny Logan; Alex King(3C, 5PG, 1DG) (Ayoola Erinle 40-HT), Rob Howley; Craig Dowd (Ali McKenzie 75), Trevor Leota (Phil Greening 62), Will Green; Simon Shaw (Peter Scrivener 74), Richard Birkett; Joe Worsley(1T), Paul Volley (Mark Lock 73), Lawrence Dallaglio (capt).
Bench: Martyn Wood, Phil Greening, Mark Denney, Ayoola Erinle, Mark Lock, Peter Scrivener, Ali McKenzie.
Scoring sequence: 2' Lewsey (T) 0-5, King (C) 0-7, 4' Mercier (PG) 3-7, 9' King (PG) 3-10, 12' King (PG) 3-13, 19' King (PG) 3-16, 40' Lewsey (T) 3-21, King (C) 3-23, 43' King (PG) 3-26, 46' King (DG) 3-29, 52' King (PG) 3-32, 70' Worsley (T) 3-37, King (C) 3-39.
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England).
Attendance: 42000.
29 MAY 2004
BATH RUGBY (3) 6, LONDON WASPS (0) 10 (Twickenham)
Bath Rugby: Mike Catt; Andrew Higgins, Robbie Fleck, Mike Tindall (Olly Barkley 78), Alex Crockett; Chris Malone(1PG, 1DG), Martyn Wood (Hentie Martens 79); David Barnes, Jonathan Humphreys (capt) (Lee Mears 56), Duncan Bell (Matt Stevens 49); Steve Borthwick, Danny Grewcock (Rob Fidler 79); Andy Beattie, Michael Lipman (James Scaysbrook 79), Zak Fea'unati.
Bench: Hentie Martens, Lee Mears, Matt Stevens, Olly Barkley, Wylie Human, James Scaysbrook, Rob Fidler.
London Wasps: Mark Van Gisbergen(1C); Josh Lewsey, Fraser Waters (Mark Denney 80), Stuart Abbott(1T) (Ayoola Erinle 27-35), Tom Voyce; Alex King(1DG), Rob Howley; Tim Payne, Trevor Leota (Ben Gotting 54), Will Green; Simon Shaw, Richard Birkett; Joe Worsley, Paul Volley, Lawrence Dallaglio (capt).
Bench: Henry Nwume, Mark Lock, Ben Gotting, Martin Purdy, Peter Richards, Mark Denney, Ayoola Erinle.
Scoring sequence: 7' Malone (PG) 3-0, 41' King (DG) 3-3, 51' Malone (DG) 6-3, 64' Abbott (T) 6-8, Van Gisbergen (C) 6-10.
Referee: Chris White (England).
Attendance: 59500.
SEMI-FINAL - RESULTS
ZURICH PREMIERSHIP SEMI-FINAL
LONDON WASPS (17) 43, SALE SHARKS (22) 22 (Causeway Stadium)
London Wasps: Mark Van Gisbergen(4C, 4PG); Paul Sackey, Ayoola Erinle(1T), Josh Lewsey(1T), Tom Voyce; Alex King(1DG), Matt Dawson; Tim Payne, Phil Greening, Will Green; Simon Shaw(1T), Richard Birkett; Joe Worsley, Tom Rees(1T), Lawrence Dallaglio (capt).
Bench: Trevor Leota, Craig Dowd, John Hart, Martin Purdy, Warren Fury, James Brooks, Joe Mbu.
Replacements used: Leota for Greening 65, Dowd for Payne 65, Hart for Rees 67, Purdy for Birkett 71, Fury for Dawson 75, Mbu for Lewsey 75.
Sale Sharks: Jason Robinson (capt); Mark Cueto(1T), Jos Baxendell, Robert Todd, Steve Hanley; Charlie Hodgson(1C, 1PG), Bryan Redpath; Ben Coutts, Andy Titterrell, Barry Stewart; Jason White(1T), Dean Schofield; Chris Jones, Magnus Lund, Sebastien Chabal(1T).
Bench: Sebastien Bruno, Stuart Turner, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, John Carter, Oriol Ripol Fortuny, Richard Wigglesworth(1C), Sililo Martens (sin bin 76).
Replacements used: Wigglesworth for Hodgson 26, Carter for Lund 29, Bruno for Titterrell 45, Turner for Coutts 51, Fernandez Lobbe for White 51, Titterrell for Bruno 59, Ripol for Baxendell 62, Martens for Redpath 66.
Scoring sequence: 2' Hodgson (PG) 0-3, 10' King (DG) 3-3, 11' Chabal (T) 3-8, Hodgson (C) 3-10, 21' Rees (T) 8-10, Van Gisbergen (C) 10-10, 23' Lewsey (T) 15-10, Van Gisbergen (C) 17-10, 28' White (T) 17-15, 33' Cueto (T) 17-20, Wigglesworth (C) 17-22, 42' Van Gisbergen (PG) 20-22, 47' Erinle (T) 25-22, Van Gisbergen (C) 27-22, 50' Van Gisbergen (PG) 30-22, 59' Shaw (T) 35-22, Van Gisbergen (C) 37-22, 69' Van Gisbergen (PG) 40-22, 74' Van Gisbergen (PG) 43-22.
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Attendance: 5824.
