Wasps
Season review – Part 1 : And so it came to pass.
The first one
By Heathen
May 7 2009
There was much speculation as to the impact that Lol’s retirement and Fraser’s departure to La Dolce Vita, would have on the 2008/9 season. New squad members included Mark (Sharky) Robinson and Serge (The Grim Reaper) Betsen. Much chagrin in some quarters regarding M Betsen’s arrival – memories of Stuart Abbott at Stade Aguilera, were revisited.
Strange new rules (or laws) were to be trialled. ELVs – Santa’s version? (or not as it proved!)
EPS came to fruition, with a huge Wasps’ contingent. Restrictions on the number of games that EPS players would be available for, was widely overestimated. ££££££ in the coffers for aiding the England cause – not if PRL had anything to do with it.
The hugely anticipated return of Boy Wonder from a career threatening injury.
Lions year with a huge Wasps’ influence in the driving seats.
HEC pool that included Leinster, Castres and Edinburgh.
Pre season kicked off in Granada and then a visit to the home town of our new Capitaine – Dax. Victory was followed by two defeats at Edinburgh and at home to Llanelli.
In the LDH against Irish, we fared no better and when further defeats against Worcester and Saints were sustained, questions were being asked about what was going wrong? Lol and Fraser’s absence – getting to grips with the ELVs. Wasps were certainly struggling to put anything cohesive together.
Respite on a Friday night at Welford Road, resulted in the first league victory of the season, but that after anything but a victory, was foreseen at HT.
Further defeats followed against Bath, in which Boy Wonder returned, 6 weeks ahead of schedule and Glaws in the EDF and the writing for our season, was well and truly on the wall.
Relief from the domestic cause came in the form of a home victory over Castres in the HEC, but the dearth of tries loomed ever larger. The following week, it was capitulation at the RDS when Leinster mullered us 41 – 11.
Back to back EDF wins against Newcastle and the Dragons followed, but there was no avalanche of tries that had been a feature of Wasps play in previous seasons.
A rest week followed, as the AIs kicked in and the full impact of the EPS, was soon to be felt.
A heavy defeat at the Stoop was followed a narrow home defeat against Sale. Dave Walder’s boot won the match away to his old club, Falcons, followed by wins in the back to back HEC games against Edinburgh.
The GP season was heading into oblivion at home to Sarries, but a late 3 try burst won the game for Wasps.
Wasps final game of 2008 was away to Sale, when the strictures of the EPS really bit hard and a much weakened Wasps side suffered a heavy defeat at Edgley Park.
The ecstasy of May 2008 was a distant memory. Where had all the tries gone? The rugby being played was sterile aerial ping-pong at times. Leadership appeared to be lacking at times.
News emerged of a new owner – Steve Hayes, MD of our landlords, and a new board which included Lol and Mark Rigby as Exec Chairman.
Rumblings at unease over contract negotiations for 17 of the squad were alleged to have had an unsettling impact on squad morale.
In an effort to aid the playing cause, Tony Hanks was recruited to help with the coaching for the rest of the season. (Must input from Gats in smoothing the passage on this)
The first half of the season was not one to consign to the memory banks.
What would 2009 bring?
See Part II for the next thrilling instalment.
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Stumbleupon07/05/2009 07:18
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On a personal note, I don't like the use of the term 'Boy Wonder' when referring to someone. IMO, this term has always a pejorative connotation. In other words, I believe that it is never used affectionately.
KevinTheB
www.justgiving.com/kevinbroadbent
A very brief synopsis, clipped and to the point, but pretty factual, so where has it been derogatory? Apart from referring to DC as The Boy Wonder which, as far as I know, was not penned by Heathen but by numerous rugby journos and authors on message boards throughout the network, there is nothing I've read that even alludes to his "off pitch antics" (your term, not mine, BTW)!
At least it will keep the board ticking over which many of the critics on here, me included, seem reluctant to do!
KevinTheB
www.justgiving.com/kevinbroadbent
Never been a fan of the "Boy Wonder" Tag who ever penned it and it seems all too easy for some journalists to tag any story about Wasps / DC with some derogatory / cheap shot statements about the life of our "Robin" - be it off pitch or or on.
My tongue in cheek next sentence was supposed to be irony but was obviously lost in translation.....
Otherwise Heathen's Part one was fine (hopefully no offence was taken) , I did consider writing some article about my view of the season, perhaps 8 days in the company of BB will provide much need inspiration.....or maybe desperation
Hope you can both make it along somewhere on route
Quote:Richardwasp
8 days in the company of BB
Have you ever thought of committing some heinous crime, Richard? You'd only get 20 years inside for that!
KevinTheB
www.justgiving.com/kevinbroadbent
Not necessarily a fan of the "Boy Wonder" tag myself, but as with any tag, we all know who the writers mean when they use it, so does it matter? Who was it said "There's no such thing as bad publicity"?
Spoke with BB this monring. Hope to make it en route, but my involvement has to be limited this year as I'm in the middle of a premises move which is taking up rather a lot of my time at the moment. Transport seems pretty well covered this year, anyway, and I can't help with the particular chosen mode. Tried putting enough air in the tyres to float - lost a van!
Good luck to you and all taking part - great cause!
It will be good to see you somewhere along the way after all previous events have shown that the intrepid walkers need fresh faces along the way to keep the sanity.
cheers
R
Quote:Richardwasp
events have shown that the intrepid walkers need fresh faces along the way to keep the sanity.
Clearly in your's and Barney's cases, it's far too late for that.
KevinTheB
www.justgiving.com/kevinbroadbent
