Weekend Preview: Perry sees chance to seize Dawson's place

Dawson will be shining the pine once again this afternoon, having been omitted from Wasps' starting line-up for a humdinger of a contest with London Irish at the Madejski Stadium. With Harry Ellis, of Leicester, recovering from knee surgery - the consequence of some dodgy doings in the west of Wales a little under a fortnight ago - the world champions' options at No 9 are looking more threadbare than at any time in a quarter of a century.

Which is where Perry comes in - or should come in, if Andy Robinson, the national coach, has his wits about him. Signed by Richard Hill, an international half-back of considerable repute during his playing days, from Coventry during the close season, he has brought his substantial 5ft 10in frame to bear on some very useful rivals over the last four months, not least Justin Marshall, one of New Zealand's finest. He is lucky, as well. Tomorrow afternoon, when Bristol travel to Northampton, he might have found himself up against Mark Robinson, a countryman of Marshall's and the most dynamic scrum-half in the Premiership. As it turns out, the less menacing Johnny Howard will start for the Saints.

Hill understands the dangers of pushing players too far, too fast. When he talks about Perry, he is quick to identify the dangers of "second season syndrome" - a well documented condition that leaves bright young things (or bright middle-aged things, come to that) struggling to match the deeds of their debut campaigns because they have lost the element of surprise. There again, he is too honest a coach to spin a yarn. Hill believes Perry has what it takes, and expects his talents to be recognised at international level.

Victory at Franklin's Gardens would leave the whole of Bristol feeling as positive as their eye-catching recruit from the middle reaches of National League One. As per usual, the ancients in the tight-forward unit have been retained en bloc - "These people are model professionals in the way they look after themselves," Hill said after this week's defeat of Leicester - and there is also some age-old know-how in midfield, where Brian Lima will wreak more Samoan havoc on behalf of the latest of his many clubs. Northampton need wins; Bristol are beginning to expect them.

Today's two fixtures could attract upwards of 30,000 spectators between them - another mighty endorsement of the Premiership at a time when, despite the overwhelming evidence, some stone-agers in the Rugby Football Union refuse to be convinced of its value. Wasps, the last side to win at Irish, have recalled Joe Worsley to the back row and awarded a debut to their new tight-head prop, Justin Va'a of Samoa. Alex King and Simon Shaw have both been rested, a decision that will do nothing to undermine the confidence of their high-performing opponents. It could well be interesting.

Leeds, meanwhile, travel to Kingsholm as the bottom-placed team, hardly the ideal position from which to confront Gloucester on their own mudheap. Yet the Yorkshiremen scored 30-plus points and four tries on their last visit to these parts almost nine months ago, and with that old front-row lag Mike Shelley back between the shafts for the first time in 11 weeks - he has recovered from a broken leg and sits on the bench, behind the southern Africans Kees Lensing and Rayno Gerber - they should at least be able to compete at the set-piece.

"The forward battle will be key," predicted Phil Davies, their director of rugby. At Kingsholm? You don't say.

Premiership team news

* LONDON IRISH v WASPS (Today, 2.45pm)

The fly-half Ross Laidlaw and blind-side flanker Richard Thorpe make their first Premiership starts for Irish. Wasps give Justin Va'a a debut at tight-head prop and have Joe Worsley back at No 6.

* GLOUCESTER v LEEDS (Today, 3.0pm)

Jake Boer starts in the Gloucester back row and Adam Eustace returns at lock. The veteran prop Mike Shelley has recovered from a broken leg and will sit on the Leeds bench.

* NEWCASTLE v WORCESTER (Tomorrow, 2.30pm)

Jonny Wilkinson faces a late fitness test before he can take his place among the Falcons reserves, so Dave Walder starts at No 10. The Kiwi Mike Maguire is on the Worcester left wing.

* NORTHAMPTON v BRISTOL (Tomorrow, 3.0pm)

Carlos Spencer returns at fly-half for Saints and Steve Thompson is back at hooker. Bristol make no changes to the side which beat Leicester at home.