Adam Balding has crucial role in Wasps match

Apr 5 2009 by Nick Purewal, Sunday Sun

"He knows what to do and when to do it, and then he goes and does the right things at the right times on the pitch.

And that’s been vital for us, so hopefully it will be important again at Wasps."

Newcastle have never beaten Wasps in High Wycombe despite seven valiant efforts, and Bates’ men will have to combat a strong – if beleaguered – home side.

Martin Johnson has allowed Danny Cipriani to play his third game in a week, breaking the Elite Player Squad agreement – because Cipriani was originally selected in the England Saxons squad at the season’s start.

When the squads were finalised, Cipriani was still recovering from that horrendous ankle fracture dislocation that has so stemmed his young career.

Johnson threw him into the Saxons despite being injured just in case, and since then Cipriani has been in and out of the full England side.

Whatever the fuss though, Bates is unfazed – so are his players. He said: "You expect to come up against the best players, you prepare for that and it does not change what we have done, do or are still to do in preparation."