Back to Ian McGeechan. Ian was an iconic figure here at the Gardens and two of his best players were Budge and Grase. Now of course, they have become coaches and I am sure Geech would like their positive attitude.

In the last five games we have scored 20 tries. Of course, we still have a lot to put right, but I like what we are doing. It is a bit dangerous sometimes, but why not? So who will triumph today? The old master or the young apprentices? Either way, a big welcome to Ian and the Wasps team. Wasps have been the team to beat in recent years and one has to admire their success on the park. We aim to be as good over the next season or two and today will see how far we have got.

Interestingly today, despite an early start and international rugby being played we have been sold out for weeks. On the other hand, for the first time ever we had real difficulty selling our allocation of tickets for the England v Australia game. I think the customers are trying to tell the OFs at the RFU something.

Starting with today’s game, the next month is critical to the team.  Although our position in the league is lower than we would have liked, don’t forget after six games we have already played, four away games against Leicester, Bath, Saracens and Gloucester, our next three games including today’s games are Wasps and Worcester at home and Leeds away. Our minimum requirement is 10 points from these three games.  Then there is the little matter of Leicester at Welford Road in the Powergen Cup. If you haven’t yet got your tickets for this game please order them through our ticket office. I anticipate having more tickets for sale than usual for a Tigers versus Saints game and we need to take as many supporters to Welford Road as possible. Just think, in four weeks’ time we could be in the top half of the Guinness Premiership and in the semi-finals of the Powergen Cup. Sport is nothing if not exciting.

Talking about exciting rugby, I am thrilled with the way our youngsters are playing in the second XV games. Last Monday, once again, a crowd of nearly 2,000 watched as we demolished Saracens 41-15. We remain top of our group and it all bodes well for the future.

I am very sorry my wife’s horse, Franklin’s Gardens performed so badly in the Melbourne Cup. Frankly, I think we bit off more than we could chew and we returned from Australia with our tails between our legs. We will just have to write it off to experience.

Get behind the boys today and help them raise their game, although Wasps have lost a couple of players to the England starting team so have we. So it is all to play for on a level playing field.  Enjoy yourselves and keep smiling.