Wasps v Northampton post match thoughts

[Wombles]

Missing the top 2 inches.

No one to blame but ourselves.

Its hard to draw other conclusions at present. Harlequins last week and Northampton this week. No insult to those two clubs, but if we want to be pushing top 4 and winning silverwear you must beat sides like this at your home ground. A LBP is little consolation. Last week was beaten in all facets, this week it was beating ourselves. So many elementary errors, so many silly decisions, so little control.

There are some bright spots. Atkinson impressed, Vellacot showed hustle and a hint of what he is able to do. Ogre, potential but has to sort his discipline and ball retention out. Miller brought stability at 15.
However Shields needs to step up more, Umaga is now struggling and needs a break from the game to get his confidence and head back. Our pack is lacking physocal edge once more, and I am now wondering whether it is time to look at a replacement for Brookes (injuries, ill discipline and errors follow him everywhere. His bad outweighs his good)

We do have a young squad and the potential is there, but currently we are a long way from top 4 quality, and we have a huge amount of work to do, and psychology + discipline is needed sooner rather than later!
 

[Heathen]

Cannot disagree with what you say, Chris.

Question is, who does Lee pick next week. 7 changes this time around, but who is left to select?

[HDAWG]

For me, the young squad is just it. We know they're capable of good things, it's just a massive learning curve. They need experiences like last week and this week to improve.

[Rossm]

I don't think home games assume the same importance without fans.

[Neils]

Bottom place between us and the Donkeys?

[Hymenoptera]

Ive said my piece on Jacob, no need for me to repeat it.
The best performance on the pitch was the ref, who was surprisingly good.

[Rossm]

Post game, Chris Boyd was asked "where was the game won and lost?" and he answered "The Referee". Why do we get the ones with the green P plates round their neck?

[JonnyD]

So I won’t be seeing the ref bashing this week all over the Facebook groups???

[Shugs]

Agree with your post Wombles. My overriding emotion is utter, utter frustration. We actually should have won that easily but time after time our accuracy, decision making and basic skills were found wanting. Our discipline was awful with the two yellows basically costing us the game. Waller had Brookes wound up and he lost his head. Missed kicks to touch were frustrating beyond belief. I'd like to see the stats on how many we miss compared to others. But I was encouraged by a lot more things today. Miller was great as was Shields, Oghre and Vellacott. I think Le Bourgeois probably starts at 12 now for me.

[hookender]

Ref no worse than any of the others ,just thought Gaskell card was soft

[hookender]

Bottom place between us and the Donkeys?

I think Bath might give us a run for that honour.

[Shugs]

We'll be absolutely nowhere near bottom. Just got to get our heads straight.

[HDAWG]

We'll be absolutely nowhere near bottom. Just got to get our heads straight.

+1 Exactly.

[Bloke in North Dorset]

We'll be absolutely nowhere near bottom. Just got to get our heads straight.

Agreed, we've just had two halves of absolutely dreadful rugby, followed by a half of mostly dumb rugby and finally a half where there were periods of us getting back to some sort of form.

We could do with getting some of our injured players back, though.

[Covkid40]

Brookes yellow card was pure stupidity and for a senior player like Gaskell to that while down to 14 was even more stupid, cost us 14 points and the game. That said I’ve we had managed to win it would have just been papering over cracks. To many players playing below the standard that set last season, umaga needs taking out of the firing line for a while he looks shot. When is mills fit?