Sackey's club confidence

Wasps winger Sackey speaks exclusively to skysports.com

By Phil Jackson   Last updated: 30th August 2007   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Sackey's club confidence

Sackey: Backing Wasps

John Hart leads by example. He's a really good player and the boys respect him and look up to him.

Paul Sackey told skysports.com
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Paul Sackey has told skysports.com that Wasps are strong enough to cope without their World Cup stars for the start of the new season.

Brian Ashton has selected Lawrence Dallaglio, Simon Shaw, Tom Rees, Phil Vickery, Joe Worsley, Josh Lewsey and Sackey to travel with England to France.

After beating Leicester Tigers in the Heineken Cup final last season, Sackey felt the acknowledgement for his club's achievements has been long overdue.

"I don't think the Wasp players get as much recognition as we deserve really," he told skysports.com. "We've won something like 10 trophies in the last five years so it's just nice to have a strong representation.

"I know we didn't have that great a season in the league last year, but we did really well in the Heineken Cup.

"And we'll be pushing hard for the league this year."

Depth

Second-rower John Hart will step up to captain the side in the absence of Dallaglio, and Sackey has every confidence in the strength of the squad.

"John Hart leads by example. He's a really good player and the boys respect him and look up to him," he told skysports.com. "We've got a good squad at the minute at Wasps. I've been down there on my days off and they're looking strong.

"Forward-wise we've bulked up and there's only me and Josh who've left from the backs, so it shouldn't be a problem.

"Hopefully I can play well and get back into the squad when I get back."

Dallaglio

Sackey has also backed the side to cope when 35-year-old skipper Dallaglio eventually decides to hang up his boots.

"We've got some great back-rowers at the club and James Haskell is unlucky not to be here at the moment," he added.

"Lawrence is a great captain and a great leader, but if he decides to retire we'll just have to get on with it.

"He's a warrior and a battler and he'll keep going until he's got nothing else to give."

Paul Sackey was speaking via his role as an affiliate of sports memorabilia store SJ Dent and Co.