By Loose Head
February 15 2004

Wasps went into this match the most depleted they have been for well over a year. Nine first choice players were unavailable due to international duty or injury. Rotherham had targeted this as their best chance of a win. With typically northern weather the game started poorly for Wasps. This was a team that had not played together before, so a degree of mis-firing was to be expected. However, within the first 10 minutes the lineout had gone wrong twice, both times on the Rotherham 5m line wasting crucial possession. The lineout did work at the third time of asking at the 5m line. Wasps drove into the Rotherham line, the carrier went to ground 1m form the line and the ref blew immediately for a stationary maul and Rotherham had a scrum, which became a penalty for some reason and the pressure was off.

Eventually the pressure paid off after 23 minutes when fast, driving ruck-play had Wasps within inches and Payne barged over to put the first points on the board. In his new role as kicker, Fraser Waters hit the post with the conversion attempt. Rotherham 0 Wasps 5.

Rotherham clearly were not in awe of anyone and took the game to Wasps. They were on the rampage doing to Wasps what had been done to them. They were not able to breach the line but forced a penalty under the posts as Wasps backs were judged offside. This brought the score to an uncomfortable 3-5. There was a flurry at the end of the half when again Wasps had a lineout on the Rotherham 5m line. A very unconvincing maul showed up the relative inexperience of the pack compared with the first choice. The first half ended Rotherham 3 Wasps 5.

The worst thing for Wasps was to see the outrageously dynamic Johnny O'Connor helped off the field towards the end of the first half with what turned out to be a ruptured Achilles tendon and the tough and dogged Paul Volley limp off with a hamstring injury. O'Connor is forecast to be out of the game for the rest of the season. Clark and Hart came on.

Throughout the first half and the rest of the game the main worry proved unnecessary. Peter Richards proved a very able fly half. True, the link with inside centre wasn't as slick as with Alex King. But he was tactically astute and with his own physical presence kept asking questions of the Rotherham defence all day. As happened barely 2 minutes into the second half. Secure lineout possession had Wasps forwards driving upfield. The ball was shipped out to Richards with all the backs on the open side. This fixed the Rotherham defence enough for Richards to be able to turn on the gas, jink past one and run into score. Fraser then scored his first kick of the afternoon to make the score a little heathier at 3-12, which soon became 6-12 with a Rotherham penalty.

Things got a bit concerning at 8 minutes when the backrow replacement Hart went off with a leg injury, replaced by Ben Gotting whose normal position is hooker. Although, at 6 feet something he looks more like a backrow than a frontrow player.

The second half was certainly more eventful than the first. In-your-face defence from Wasps – well in the Rotherham half – forced a hurried pass which Howley intercepted and ran in relatively easily. Waters converted to make the score Rotherham 6 Wasps 19. The travelling Wasps supporters were beginning to breathe more easily and realistically thought of the bonus point.

It was unclear if it was due to a slight injury or the same confidence was sweeping through the Wasps management, as at 18 minutes Howley was substituted for Harvey Biljon, making a rare but deserved appearance in the first team.

A few minutes later Voyce had the ball and kicked it behind the Rotherham defence rolling it perilously close to the Rotherham line, with Richards and Waters chasing it down. Rotherham managed to get to the ball first by a split second, but with Richards and Waters ripping the ball they were unable to stop Richards diving that extra yard with it to secure his second try and the bonus point for Wasps. The conversion was missed, so the score at 21 minutes was Rotherham 6 Wasps 24.

Rotherham still were not cowed and fought back putting the Wasps defence under a lot of pressure, but the line held. By this time Denney was on for Waters and Henry Nwume made his debut coming on for Will Green.

On the half hour, Rotherham punted down field. Rudd retrieved and ran it back. He had been very effective at busting the Rotherham tackles, and the Wasps style nowadays is to chance your arm whenever possible it seems. This time however he was caught isolated and gave away a penalty for holding on. Rotherham took a quick tap to not let Wasps set their defence. It worked as they were able to drive over to score. The conversion made it Rotherham 13 Wasps 24.

Roberts was substituted for Shane Roiser. So, with 10 minutes to go the bench was empty.

At 37 minutes whatever confidence the travelling Wasps supporters had dispersed somewhat. Rotherham had a penalty on the Wasps 5m line and opted to kick for touch. The Wasps forwards seemed unprepared, or maybe unclear about roles with all the changes there had been. Rotherham had a clean catch and drove through the centre of the line with relative ease and straight over for a try. With a few minutes on the clock, the conversion made the score Rotherham 20 Wasps 24. Things were a little tense and Rotherham sniffed their first victory of the season.

Deep in injury time there was a penalty to Wasps in a normally kickable position, but no kicker on the pitch and Erinle was down on the ground receiving treatment. Biljon stepped up and opted to kick for goal. This if nothing else would use up time. It was a cracking kick which bisected the posts. The points difference at 7 points in injury time meant that Wasps would not lose the game – the first priority. They had to hold out for a couple of minutes more to ensure a victory. A knock on gave a scrum to Wasps, which although won was absurdly messy. Biljon grabbed the ball and under pressure managed to hoof the ball off the park. The referee's whistle went to end the game with relief to all the Waspies.

But at what cost? The backs will be boosted next week with the return of King and van Gisbergen, but what about the back row? Dallaglio and Worsley on England duty in Edinburgh, O'Connor out for the season, Volley out for a few weeks if it is indeed a hamstring injury and doubt over Hart's injury. That leaves Lock, Clarke and a call up for the very effective but still inexperienced Haskell – and that's before we start thinking about replacements.

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Loose Head