We were stung
London Irish 21 London Wasps 31
We were stung
By Paddy69 September 30 2002
"This is the standard of performance and intensity that we want to show each game. If we can keep playing like this, we will win a lot of games", stated LI Director of Rugby, Conor O' Shea after yesterday's game.
We were stung
"This is the standard of performance and intensity that we want to show each game. If we can keep playing like this, we will win a lot of games", stated LI Director of Rugby, Conor O' Shea after yesterday's game.
London Irish 21 London Wasps 31
In contrast, Warren Gatland, said “this is easily the best we have played since I came to the club. Our players are now in the proper physical shape to compete in the Premiership. The last time we came here, we were beaten by a fitter, faster more technically aware side in Nigel Melville’s last game at the club”. With nary a chuckle in sight, either.
Once again the referee and officials were dressed in blue, a good omen, we thought.
For the first 6 minutes of this game, it looked as if a beating for Wasps was on the cards. We had Beefy bullying his way through the middle of the park, a Sackey intercept that gained about 40M, some fine interplay between Gussie and Mike Horak. Dawson was flaunting a natty red scrum cap to keep the Ulster contingent happy. The Wasps defence withstood some fierce pressure and Naka had the supporters jumping out of their seats as he went over the line, but the ball was held up. All credit to Wasps, this workrate was to set the tone for what came next.
A quick chip and chase from Howley needed Horak to make the mark, the clearance to half way resulted in Wasps winning the lineout, but one of the finest moments for me was when Barry put a huge tackle in on Larry D, stopping him in his tracks. Great cheer from the pumped up Irish supporters.
Robert Howley began to dominate in the centre of the park, moving the ball well and his work off the base of the scrum is exemplary. He is helped in no small measure by having Dallaglio at No. 8. They each have great understanding of how the other plays.
The first score was from a penalty, which had been brought in 10M, but King popped it over from the 22.
Shortly afterwards, Sackey made another flying run down in front of the East Stand faithful, only to give away a penalty for getting up having been tackled. In the 15th minute, we got a glimpse of the pace of Sampson as he chased a Howley kick on to slide over for the first try of the game. Alex King did his thing, 0-10.
From the restart, Bob Casey was in the thick of the action with support from Gussie and Horak. Wasps were not kicking for touch, but infield down Mikes throat, forcing the kick for touch to give Greening the put-in. We were treated to an under-arm throw-in as well.
On 20 minutes, Irish got their first kickable penalty, from about 25M out. Barry seemed to connect all wrong with it and it fell well short of the posts. Wasps cleared to the 10M and gave away a scrum for a knock-on from the lineout. Barry attempted a kick ahead, which sailed over the try line, but managed to stop dead on the dead ball line, much to Sampson’s frustration.
Wasps were playing the territory game so well and King was winning the battle of the 10’s hands down. Barry made a great pick off the back of a scrum, only to throw the pass behind the to flying wingers and into touch. Mike Horak was catching and marking well and he needed to. He was subjected to a bit of an aerial bombardment.
Of our forwards, Naka was definitely leading from the front and was my MOTM. He was looking to go forward at every opportunity. Irish were showing a lot of spirit, but Wasps were sharper, half a yard quicker and looking to win. The moment that probably put the game beyond Irish came in the 31st minute, when Rob Howley gained possession from some smart passing, dropped his left shoulder, feinted left and a great big gap opened up in front of him. Guys of this calibre do not miss from 5M out, and he didn’t. Kinga bagged the conversion, 0-17.
Our boys didn’t give up the fight though and Beefy, Bob and Strudders were all involved in moves that did make ground. Geoff Appleford and Nick Burrows were having a torrid time with the flying Roiser, Sampson and Lewsey to contend with. Joe Worsley was being Joe Worsley and Big Larry was leading from the front. Our lads were lined up very flat and we didn't seem to have a real gain line breaker, a la Sheasby. Once again a feature of our play is getting the ball out to wingers at strange heights or just at a point where they have to stop before retrieving it, by which time Wasps defence was in their faces.
Sackey caught a kicked ball from King but was turned over; the ball was recycled and some great running from Lewsey who made acres of ground before offloading to Sampson then to Shane Roiser to dive over the line for yet another try. We were to be on the wrong end of the 24-0 half time scoreline this time. Bob Casey was deliberately, in my opinion, taken out from the restart just as the ref blew for half time.
Reading Fatboy presented his cheque to JC of the proceeds of Fatboy Aid. Well done to all who contributed in whatever way to this very worthy cause.
Bob limped on for the 2nd half, but was replaced by Kidzilla after 3 minutes. Declan was putting his body about and generally looking dangerous. Gussie wasn’t bad at No. 8. In the 48th minute, Barry attempted a kick from about 5M into the Wasps half, but again it fell short of the mark. The front row semi-rotation started with Mike Worsley coming on for Beefy in the 49th minute. Mike’s first contribution was a knock-on from a move that had involved some neat passing from Horak, Appleford and Burrows. A look across the park through Mrs. H’s binoculars saw a very grim looking Irish bench. Conor and the Doc were not happy chappies. Mark Mapletoft came on instead of Burrows and the style of back play changed almost immediately. Tofty seems to be able to create a bit of space where prior to that there had been none.
If the bench were unhappy before now, they were even less happy in the 58th minute when Craig Dowd added the Bonus Point try from a line out following a penalty kick into the corner. Wasps were flying and full of confidence. 0-31 the scoreboard said. Barry kicked a penalty to the corner, and from the quick throw in, Mike Worsley scored our first score. Barry converted, 7-31. Pierre came on for Laa Laa. Sackey made a fine break but didn’t manage to ground the ball, it was on the far side of the field, but as he didn’t complain too much, I guess it must have been a correct call.
Wasps began to ring the changes, with Howley, Greening and Dowd going off the field. This, and the scoreline must have made a difference to Wasps, as Irish started to gain momentum from all the possession. Tofty was making smart kicks and passes and even showed off a new tackling technique, lie down in front of your man and let him fall over you.
King was replaced by Logan and Beardshaw came on for Simon Shaw in the 72nd minute. It was looking like a practice match for Wasps now. Declan Danaher scored a try from a fine move, which involved some good ground making from KD who offloaded smartly to Tofty, then to Gussie and on to Dec to score, 14-31. Dallaglio went off to be replaced by McCarthy in the 78th minute and Irish put Kevin Barrett on in place of Digby, who had had a good all round game. Declan added his second try in the 82nd minute after Tofty had chased a kick on from Barry. 21-31 final score.
Conor named Strudders as his MOTM, but could have had a choice fro Naka or Mike Horak. I see Barry took our advice from last week and had a haircut so he doesn’t look so like Kevin Barrett.
“We are not panicking, in fact I couldn’t be prouder of our lads today. Gary, Brendan and I looked to the guys to perform like this week in, week out. Why Robert Howley isn’t playing for Wales, only he knows, the guy is still World-Class. We had Naka held up and then Paul (Sackey), so it could have been a very different result. Especially considering that Howleys try was pure opportunism. We found it extremely difficult to turn possession into points. One thing is for sure, we have drummed into the guys to never, ever, ever, ever play like last week again”.
“Barry has won us loads of games, and will do so n the future. We are not worried about him at all. Look at the criticism that Michael Owen was taking, but he responded with a hat trick”. When asked if the fact that training is at Sunbury but the games are at Reading made the difference, Conor responded that a set of posts is a set of posts.
“Brendan is fit and available to be selected but Geoff Appleford is doing a fine job”.
“This was a very accurate, professional, highly disciplined performance”, said Warren Gatland, Wasps Director of Rugby. “Rob scored 14 points from not much, his influence is very good on players like Martin Wood. In the first few games we gave away points, but we have worked on trusting each other and our system. I am disappointed that we let them get back into the game as they did. I will be talking to the players about that. Irish are a good team and a proud team with some big units in there, they took their tries well”.
“Joe Worsley was outstanding, as was Laurence. I was very pleased by how we dealt with the scrum as I considered that to be a London Irish strongpoint. Craig Dowd is probably 1 ½ stone lighter than last year and is in the best shape he has been in for years”.
In contrast, Warren Gatland, said “this is easily the best we have played since I came to the club. Our players are now in the proper physical shape to compete in the Premiership. The last time we came here, we were beaten by a fitter, faster more technically aware side in Nigel Melville’s last game at the club”. With nary a chuckle in sight, either.
Once again the referee and officials were dressed in blue, a good omen, we thought.
For the first 6 minutes of this game, it looked as if a beating for Wasps was on the cards. We had Beefy bullying his way through the middle of the park, a Sackey intercept that gained about 40M, some fine interplay between Gussie and Mike Horak. Dawson was flaunting a natty red scrum cap to keep the Ulster contingent happy. The Wasps defence withstood some fierce pressure and Naka had the supporters jumping out of their seats as he went over the line, but the ball was held up. All credit to Wasps, this workrate was to set the tone for what came next.
A quick chip and chase from Howley needed Horak to make the mark, the clearance to half way resulted in Wasps winning the lineout, but one of the finest moments for me was when Barry put a huge tackle in on Larry D, stopping him in his tracks. Great cheer from the pumped up Irish supporters.
Robert Howley began to dominate in the centre of the park, moving the ball well and his work off the base of the scrum is exemplary. He is helped in no small measure by having Dallaglio at No. 8. They each have great understanding of how the other plays.
The first score was from a penalty, which had been brought in 10M, but King popped it over from the 22.
Shortly afterwards, Sackey made another flying run down in front of the East Stand faithful, only to give away a penalty for getting up having been tackled. In the 15th minute, we got a glimpse of the pace of Sampson as he chased a Howley kick on to slide over for the first try of the game. Alex King did his thing, 0-10.
From the restart, Bob Casey was in the thick of the action with support from Gussie and Horak. Wasps were not kicking for touch, but infield down Mikes throat, forcing the kick for touch to give Greening the put-in. We were treated to an under-arm throw-in as well.
On 20 minutes, Irish got their first kickable penalty, from about 25M out. Barry seemed to connect all wrong with it and it fell well short of the posts. Wasps cleared to the 10M and gave away a scrum for a knock-on from the lineout. Barry attempted a kick ahead, which sailed over the try line, but managed to stop dead on the dead ball line, much to Sampson’s frustration.
Wasps were playing the territory game so well and King was winning the battle of the 10’s hands down. Barry made a great pick off the back of a scrum, only to throw the pass behind the to flying wingers and into touch. Mike Horak was catching and marking well and he needed to. He was subjected to a bit of an aerial bombardment.
Of our forwards, Naka was definitely leading from the front and was my MOTM. He was looking to go forward at every opportunity. Irish were showing a lot of spirit, but Wasps were sharper, half a yard quicker and looking to win. The moment that probably put the game beyond Irish came in the 31st minute, when Rob Howley gained possession from some smart passing, dropped his left shoulder, feinted left and a great big gap opened up in front of him. Guys of this calibre do not miss from 5M out, and he didn’t. Kinga bagged the conversion, 0-17.
Our boys didn’t give up the fight though and Beefy, Bob and Strudders were all involved in moves that did make ground. Geoff Appleford and Nick Burrows were having a torrid time with the flying Roiser, Sampson and Lewsey to contend with. Joe Worsley was being Joe Worsley and Big Larry was leading from the front. Our lads were lined up very flat and we didn't seem to have a real gain line breaker, a la Sheasby. Once again a feature of our play is getting the ball out to wingers at strange heights or just at a point where they have to stop before retrieving it, by which time Wasps defence was in their faces.
Sackey caught a kicked ball from King but was turned over; the ball was recycled and some great running from Lewsey who made acres of ground before offloading to Sampson then to Shane Roiser to dive over the line for yet another try. We were to be on the wrong end of the 24-0 half time scoreline this time. Bob Casey was deliberately, in my opinion, taken out from the restart just as the ref blew for half time.
Reading Fatboy presented his cheque to JC of the proceeds of Fatboy Aid. Well done to all who contributed in whatever way to this very worthy cause.
Bob limped on for the 2nd half, but was replaced by Kidzilla after 3 minutes. Declan was putting his body about and generally looking dangerous. Gussie wasn’t bad at No. 8. In the 48th minute, Barry attempted a kick from about 5M into the Wasps half, but again it fell short of the mark. The front row semi-rotation started with Mike Worsley coming on for Beefy in the 49th minute. Mike’s first contribution was a knock-on from a move that had involved some neat passing from Horak, Appleford and Burrows. A look across the park through Mrs. H’s binoculars saw a very grim looking Irish bench. Conor and the Doc were not happy chappies. Mark Mapletoft came on instead of Burrows and the style of back play changed almost immediately. Tofty seems to be able to create a bit of space where prior to that there had been none.
If the bench were unhappy before now, they were even less happy in the 58th minute when Craig Dowd added the Bonus Point try from a line out following a penalty kick into the corner. Wasps were flying and full of confidence. 0-31 the scoreboard said. Barry kicked a penalty to the corner, and from the quick throw in, Mike Worsley scored our first score. Barry converted, 7-31. Pierre came on for Laa Laa. Sackey made a fine break but didn’t manage to ground the ball, it was on the far side of the field, but as he didn’t complain too much, I guess it must have been a correct call.
Wasps began to ring the changes, with Howley, Greening and Dowd going off the field. This, and the scoreline must have made a difference to Wasps, as Irish started to gain momentum from all the possession. Tofty was making smart kicks and passes and even showed off a new tackling technique, lie down in front of your man and let him fall over you.
King was replaced by Logan and Beardshaw came on for Simon Shaw in the 72nd minute. It was looking like a practice match for Wasps now. Declan Danaher scored a try from a fine move, which involved some good ground making from KD who offloaded smartly to Tofty, then to Gussie and on to Dec to score, 14-31. Dallaglio went off to be replaced by McCarthy in the 78th minute and Irish put Kevin Barrett on in place of Digby, who had had a good all round game. Declan added his second try in the 82nd minute after Tofty had chased a kick on from Barry. 21-31 final score.
Conor named Strudders as his MOTM, but could have had a choice fro Naka or Mike Horak. I see Barry took our advice from last week and had a haircut so he doesn’t look so like Kevin Barrett.
“We are not panicking, in fact I couldn’t be prouder of our lads today. Gary, Brendan and I looked to the guys to perform like this week in, week out. Why Robert Howley isn’t playing for Wales, only he knows, the guy is still World-Class. We had Naka held up and then Paul (Sackey), so it could have been a very different result. Especially considering that Howleys try was pure opportunism. We found it extremely difficult to turn possession into points. One thing is for sure, we have drummed into the guys to never, ever, ever, ever play like last week again”.
“Barry has won us loads of games, and will do so n the future. We are not worried about him at all. Look at the criticism that Michael Owen was taking, but he responded with a hat trick”. When asked if the fact that training is at Sunbury but the games are at Reading made the difference, Conor responded that a set of posts is a set of posts.
“Brendan is fit and available to be selected but Geoff Appleford is doing a fine job”.
“This was a very accurate, professional, highly disciplined performance”, said Warren Gatland, Wasps Director of Rugby. “Rob scored 14 points from not much, his influence is very good on players like Martin Wood. In the first few games we gave away points, but we have worked on trusting each other and our system. I am disappointed that we let them get back into the game as they did. I will be talking to the players about that. Irish are a good team and a proud team with some big units in there, they took their tries well”.
“Joe Worsley was outstanding, as was Laurence. I was very pleased by how we dealt with the scrum as I considered that to be a London Irish strongpoint. Craig Dowd is probably 1 ½ stone lighter than last year and is in the best shape he has been in for years”.
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