By Loose Head
January 3 2007

If you have been following Wasps for anything longer than half an hour you will be used to the idea that – like your investments in shares and unit trusts – performances can go down as well as up. In a similar way to shares, a lot of people have invested a lot of money in Wasps and, frankly, the performances are baffling.

When was the last time other than in Italy that we won an away game? A quick bit of analysis:

Well, if you don’t include the season opening double header at Twickenham – this year officially an away game – we last won away from home against Newbury in a pre-season friendly.

That’s not very good. Most recently Bath and Northampton. Dire. But should we expect to win everything, fulfilling other supporters’ views of us of being arrogant. In my humble opinion, yes. To be honest, I’m not that interested in quaint clichés like the other team wanting it more (yet another crass import from footie commentators). I’m interested in such things like tactics being stuck to when they are patently not working. And I am not convinced by squad rotation. I know that players need rest, I know it’s a marathon not a sprint. I also know that when we won everything it was on the basis of wizardry behind the scenes keeping pretty much the same team fit, with them having the over-riding instruction that if it all goes to pot just play rugby.

Why was Walder playing on New Year’s Day against Bath? The last time I can remember him playing in the first team I think was a late replacement against Cardiff (that day we had three fly halves on the pitch). Anyway, I think I have a theory. I asked a backroom management team member about the fly half situation some time ago – while in Perpignan actually. Apparently, Walder is seen as the best wet weather fly half in the club. Jaw drops. Does Wasps really pick its key players based on the weather forecast?

Anyway, that’s the moan. Key points for the future:
Pick the best team available – rest players as required but dump rotation as a policy.
Reputation doesn’t mean squat.
Our next two away games are Castres and Worcester. That should focus the mind.