Ibanez ready to deliver

Hooker Ibanez will make his 50th European Cup appearance when Wasps meet the Saints at the Ricoh Stadium in Coventry on Sunday.

Having led France to the Six Nations title last month, Ibanez now wants to help Wasps reach the European Cup final at Twickenham on May 20.

"We are now well and truly at the business end of the club season - and now is the time to deliver as a team," Ibanez told the Wasps website.

"This is a massive game. A European Cup semi-final is up there with the biggest of the big ones and the match on Sunday is something really fantastic for everyone - the club, the players and the fans."

Wasps defeated Northampton 35-29 in the league on Sunday to leave the Saints bottom of the Premiership.

But Ibanez insists they will not be under-estimating their opponents, especially after the Saints' shock quarter-final victory over French giants Toulouse.

"Northampton did really well in the quarter-finals," Ibanez added. "Biarritz were pretty confident going into the game, saying how they had already played them twice and beaten them twice, but we all know what then happened in San Sebastian.

"The result means Northampton deserve to be in the semi-finals and we have a huge amount of respect for them.

"We are still looking for the perfect game - and we have got the team spirit to produce that - and the semi-final would be a good place to come up with that performance."

Wasps are also chasing a Premiership play-off spot while Northampton are locked in a relegation battle with fellow-strugglers Worcester.