A very good morning from a pleasantly quiet Guildford. I am up with the lark as is usual for me, coffee is in the machine with its smooth caramel and chocolate notes infusing the air and spreading gently throughout the house. There are few more wonderful aromas to wake us from our slumber, and sampling that wonderful brew whilst taking the morning air is a treat I will never take for granted. Thus my pre game ritual has commenced! And thus the hound will be walked, the paper absorbed of all rugby related material and ‘fighting talk’ on 5 live enjoyed, before we settle down to see our boys take on Saints at the gardens, before the oldest and one of the most exciting test matches in the worlds finest annual tournament begins! Manna from heaven indeed!
Last week was a rude awakening for us Waspies. A perfect storm of a rejuvenated Quins with the shackles off came up against a lacklustre performance from our entire 23 for 80 minutes. Lee was right when he commented that there was no positives to draw from the game as were beaten all ends up. Set piece, passing, communication, execution, decision making, physicality, psychologically, leadership, tactics. We lost every battle and deserved exactly what we got. I said at the time that post game analysis here held little to no value. Where the lesson is, is for us to remember that game, remember the defeat, burn it into our psyche and use it as motivation never to repeat that performance again.
Changes have been made this weekend, Porter is out, Umaga benching being key as the 9-10 axis misfired last week. Yet the forwards need to step up as that did not help matters. Yes injuries and international call ups have an impact. But if we are to constantly be a top 4 team then this will be an annual problem. This is a squad game and the squad must be good enough to keep pushing when those players are away. It must start this week, and it must start against a Saints team buoyed by recent victory.
Then, the Calcutta cup. As a rugby person to my core this is the fixture i look for first every season. The first international against the auld enemy. Yes we will miss the excitement of the crowd, and Many of us (including myself) will miss those precious moments of heading to HQ/down the pub/to a gathering of friends in a house to witness this battle. But be assured those days WILL return once more. But until that day the excitement is still palpable. Todays test is banjo string tight. Scotland have a good and improving test team. Under Jones of late we have played narrowly and with a limited game plan. It has been effective, but it is fallible, and if we come up against a team that physically matches or bests us, it is also easily beatable! Has Jones played a blinder and is going to expand on these tactics, because of you want to be the best team in the world you need more than one or two bows (EDIT: not bows, i meant to say arrows! Good spot Wonky!
) in you quiver. If not questions must start to be asked because with the talent and resources we have only the error of ways or inability of the individual would be reason not to use them.
My other concern is a lack of game time from too many key players in our squad. This is a weakness that Scotland can and will exploit. And should defeat occur then immediate response should be considered as players cannot be picked on reputation alone, they need to be out there regularly performing for their club. Those from premiership games cancelled have a good reason. Those who remain with a club that is not even playing and may well not do have tougher reasons to merit selection.
Make no bones about it, these are two games that could be banjo string tight and absolute thrillers. Saints and Wasps I cannot call. The calcutta cup? Well it may be a losing streak at HQ stretching back to the 1980s may end today as I have them slight favourites.
Whatever happens though, my beer is charged, my wasps and England gear adorned and I cannot wait for it to begin as we cheer our boys in black and gold and our England lads on! Lets get this rugby party started!!!
Chris
Once a Wasp ALWAYS a Wasp!
Topic: Morning all! (Read 1530 times)
Always a Wasp