Wigan vs. Bath

[Elizabeth Goldenberg]

From Bloomberg Sports

Martin Offiah, one of Wigan's ex-rugby union stars, is expected to be fit
to face Bath in Wednesday night's first historic cross-code challenge at
Manchester City's Maine Road ground.

The 29 year old sensation has not played since breaking a bone in his back
during Wigan's Super LEague defeat at St. Helens on April 5.

The ex-Rosslyn Park winger has been a massive success since moving to rugby
league in 1986 with Widnes before joining champion Wigan for a then world
record fee of 440,000 pounds (US$660,000). Wigan named Offiah in their 19
man squad for the first challenge game, which will be played under rugby
league rules, against rugby union double winner Bath.

Wigan coach Graeme West said, "Martin was very close to playing against
Paris yesterday, but he still had a bit of discomfort in his back, although
I am sure he'll be right for Wednesday."

And Offiah said himself that he expected to be fit and added that a lot of
importance was being placed on the two matches.

"Obviously we are keen on the week in, week out Super League which is a big
thing and which we want to do well in, but this is a side attraction which
is also very important." Offiah said. "It's another big stage and a lot
of people will be watching, not only from rugby league but also from rugby
union as well. There willbe a lot of people interested in the outcome of
both games."

Wigan will be putting out their strongest possible side which will include
ex-All Black Va'aiga Tuigamala and former Welsh rugby union international
Scott Quinnell.

Quinnell has been strongly linked during the past few days with a permanent
return to rugby union with second division outfit Richmond, but nothing has
been finalized yet.

Wigan said on Monday that 20,000 tickets had already been sold before this
weekend for Wednesday's first challenge encounter against Bath, and
officials are hoping three could yet be a 32,000 sell out at Maine Road.

All 82 executive boxes have been sold while all 120 have already gone for
the rugby union return at Twickenham on Saturday, May 25.


--

Liz Goldenberg (gol...@tdbank.ca)


Standard Disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are solely those of the
author unless otherwise stated.

[Elizabeth Goldenberg]

From the Press Associaton & Bloomberg Sports:

Jim Fallon, former England B winger, predicts that Wigan will ovehelm Bath
in tomorrow's first challenge match, but that Bath will win at Twickenham.
He believes that although the games will finish even, Wigan's winning
margin at Maine Road will be larger than Bath's at Twickenham.

Fallon, who today returned to union from Leeds with Courage League 2 club
Richmond, signed for Leeds 4 years ago after winning 5 England B caps. He
predicted that Bath's problems will be in defence. He went on to say that,
"they (Bath) will be put under relentless pressure by Wigan's strength,
running, and handling, and I don't think their tackling will be good
enough. Also, their level of fitness will be put to the test. In league,
with no pauses for line-outs and fewer scrums, there's little opportunity
for breathers. In union, the ball is only in play for about 25 of the 80
minutes, and I think Wigan, if they set out to do so, will score a lot of
points."

Fallon, however, feels it will be a completely different turn of events at
Twickenham, although Wigan has put a good deal of preparation in with
Orrell. He said, "in non-football areas - line outs, rucks, and mauls - I
expect Bath to be dominant at Twickenham, and consequently Wigan will
probalby be starved of the ball. Their forwards won't have the technique
to combat the Bath pack as a unit, and we might well see Bath scoring a few
pushover tries."

Bath's team has been announced, and following is Wigan's probable team:
Radlinski, Robinson, Tuigamala, Connolly, Offiah, Paul, Edwards, Cowie,
Hall, O'Connor, Quinnell, Cassidy, Farrell. Reserves (from): Skerrett,
Haughton, Smyth, Murdock, Johnson.