Wigan tipped for Sevens success

Steve Bale backs Wigan to continue their crusade for rugby union glory

As a vision of how rugby - never mind the union and league suffixes - could be played, Wigan's demolition of Bath on Wednesday was so awe- inspiringly complete that they come to Twickenham today as favourites to win the Middlesex Sevens.

We should not forget that, apart from the practices against Orrell with which they have prepared for the return against Bath under union rules in a fortnight, Wigan have no rugby union experience whatsoever. Certainly they have had far less practice than that of the Malaysians, this year's second guest side.

Yet there can be no doubting their ability to make this instant switch to the abbreviated version of the other code. For one thing, there will be less of the rucking and mauling that will bog them down against Bath, and, for another, these guys are superb footballers.

That said, it will be not be a comfortable experience for the great and good of rugby here present if Wigan do as anticipated.

Certainly Brian Ashton, the Wiganer who coaches Bath, has no doubts. "It will be a fluke if anyone beats them," he said.

Until Bath's 82-6 annihilation under league rules at Maine Road, the fluke would have been for Wigan to win today. No longer.

"I don't care which set of players they put on the pitch," Ashton said. "They could all be forwards, but they'll still be quick, strong and more skilful than most rugby union sides."

Bath had already withdrawn from the Middlesex Sevens by the time they played Wigan, pleading "a game too far" as the excuse. That is despite the fact their stamina will still run to the second game against Wigan, with its attendant financial rewards.

For Wigan, however, the chance to continue their missionary work at the very heart of uniondom is too good to miss.

"If we get some ball, we might do some damage," Shaun Edwards, captain and one-time England Schools union international, said.

In fact, getting the ball will be less of a problem in sevens than than it will be in 15-a-side.

The Wigan squad contains four former union men. One, Martin Offiah, is well remembered by union aficionados for his Middlesex Sevens feats for Rosslyn Park. Another, Scott Quinnell, is about to return to union with Richmond, who may be sorry to be Wigan's first opponents at 12.40pm.

The former All Black Va'aiga Tuigamala - whose brother Lua is in today's Orrell squad - and the Samoan 1995 World Cup flanker, Shem Tatupu, complete the quartet.

Their collective presence has helped ensure a record capacity crowd of 61,000, generating more than pounds 400,000 for charities.

Among those trying to stop Wigan will be Lawrence Dallaglio of Wasps, the Rugby Football Union's player of the season, and Leicester's Neil Back, another England flanker but viewed less kindly by authority after pushing the referee at the end of last Saturday's cup final.