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Fitness definitely key, both physical and mental, in getting 80 minutes of high intensity. Don't think the final is that significant because our intensity wasn't there for the first 3 games of this season, which were a bit like pre-season after a bit of a break. However Lee mentioned knowing what a champion team looks like and his adaptability will combine our swashbuckling approach with more pragmatism so we get the best of both worlds.
I agree with all of this, but I do wonder if the final actually had a negative effect as the players had to pick themselves up after that loss to start another long season with little rest or time to recover mentally. Add to that the disruption due to the internationals where several key voices in the dressing room were absent and others were there, then not there, then there again. It shouldn't be underestimated how much this could delay the healing of mental scars from the final. Once the squad was fully back together, settled and with time since the final the squad are playing more like they were in the run in at the end of last season.
I wonder if wasps would have had the patience,discipline and tenacity had a normal crowd been there? Can you imagine the noise and shouts for them to go wide ?
I rewatched the match last night and had to comment on the impressive passage of play that took place from the 59th minute when Wasps were camped in Exeter’s red zone for a solid 10 minutes. The intensity in attack was unrelenting with wave after wave of attack. Credit to Exeter for throwing everything into their defence but they ended up conceding 7+ penalties and got a yellow as Wasps kept piling on the pressure. Even when Wasps made handling errors they recovered well including a turnover on Exeter’s own try line. The only mishap was when T Willis slightly mistimed the pick & go (64:52) and got absolutely clattered by the Exeter pack. How that guy didn’t end up in A&E I don’t know (one tough kid). The unrelenting pressure by the Wasps’ pack did ultimately pay off with McIntyre getting his first try of the game but what an incredible team effort. Really recommend rewatching those 10 minutes ... quite the spectacle.