By MacShark
October 10 2003

We welcome the Waspies to EP. In doing so we welcome the current Zurich champions, the club that blew away the rest at the back end of last season.

But emphasis should be on the team and not club. Those that are running on a dank English night and not others in the antipodes. So what of the team that is winging its way from it’s Acton training ground. And why not use Bath as a yardstick?

 

Sale may have struggled, but focussing on the Wasps revealed trademark surges from Leota and Volley, and characteristic marauding runs from Shaw. Voyce at fullback into the line was incisive, stepping off either foot. Van Gisbergen appeared invicible kicking inside 40 metres, but from greater than 40m the lethality diminished. The more the game progressed, the more the team yet to win away, exposed elements that might answer why. Howley was getting scragged time and again. Leota’s line out faded, scrums lost against the head. Enough turn over ball to have Gatland screaming if not scribbling down the inevitable changes in the back row and at hooker we will see at EP, with Greening, 0’Connor and Scrivener now in.

 

Looking for a sting in the tail, watch for Severi style through the legs flips from the number eight for Howley to hare down the blindside, and quick ball from four man line outs. As for closing out tight games with kicking when the pressure is on from a drop or place the Wasps seemed strangely reluctant, we have been there.

 

So in the words of Jim, “Beating Leicester at Welford Road was a massive boost for the players, but we now have to build on that victory.” The building starts with the same XV from Welford Road, some firm foundations from any penalties courtesy of BVS will be much needed, upfront against every team we have played so far we given everything to provide the structure and platform for the sharpest Backs in Blightey. A razor sharp Paul Devlin to come off the bench is a much welcome addition.

Wasps may sting us, but we must be surely full of bite.

 

MacShark