Skysports.com assesses Wasps' chances for 2008-9 and recent history suggests you write the defending champions off at your peril.
Fight for Ibanez's side to retain their title
Recent history suggests you write London Wasps off at your peril.
Struggling near the bottom after the opening months of the season, Wasps timed their run to the play-offs with perfection to scoop the title.
However, they will face a fight to retain their title as the 2008-9 season sees them take to the field without their talisman Lawrence Dallaglio - with the former England skipper bowing out after the Premiership final success over Leicester.
Dallaglio has been the heartbeat of the Wasps side - and the man they can turn to in an emergency.
There is no doubt his presence will be missed in the dressing room - but the loss of talented centre Fraser Waters will also be felt hard.
Waters has been one of the Premiership's unsung stars, with his defence and ability to pick the right running lines at just the right time vital to Wasps' success.
Coup
However while Waters heads for summer climes in Treviso, Wasps do have a wealth of talent to fill the gaps.
Rob Hoadley and Dominic Waldouck have performed wonders in the midfield, while the arrival of talented young Australian Lachlan Mitchell from the Waratahs could be a huge coup.
Wasps have also recruited wisely to bring the awesome French flanker Serge Betsen to the club - his on-field performances could well go some way to replacing Dallaglio - as well as adding the experience of New Zealand scrum-half Mark Robinson.
A lot will be expected of new captain Raphael Ibanez to squeeze the best out of a talented young squad.
With James Haskell, Tom Rees, Tom Palmer, Tim Payne, Simon Shaw, Phil Vickery, Riki Flutey, Josh Lewsey and Paul Sackey all in the England elite squad - with Danny Cipriani almost certainly set to be added in January - Wasps will have to turn to their younger players during the international weeks.
However if they can get through the Six Nations and autumn international - that is seven Premiership games - unscathed, then they are sure to be in the mix at the end of the season.
With a potential back-row of Betsen, Haskell and Rees and Cipriani and Flutey pulling the strings in the backs, Wasps have the class to go all the way.
