Good morning all Waspies from a quiet Guildford. Once more in the race between myself and the lark I have emerged from my pit before my feathered adversary. Whilst he is still dreaming of full bird feeders and a nest full of chicks I have the coffee on the go, whilst preparing to take a walk to th shop to grab today’s newspaper and absorb the build up to our boys taking on Irish and our opponents in red across the Severn.
For our Lads in black and gold, today is all about effort, effort in the tackle, effort in the set piece, effort in attack and also effort in defence. Last week was like watching the energiser bunny when the batteries are going flat. Yes the movement is there, but it was all that little bit slower, and you knew a simple push would knock our furry friend off his paws and onto his cotton tail. That same fragility so apparent against Tigers cannot be repeated today. All the team need to show up, but some such as ogre and rowlands need to make amends just a little more. If we play to our potential we can win. However we must put an 80 minute effort in, as you know Irish -who nearly completed a remarkable comeback against Bristol last week - will be giving their all.
And then to England v Wales. It needs little introduction..Yes the pubs will not be heaving today (that day is coming), No streets packed with foreign invaders clad in white with the red rose proudly standing singing swing low, whilst red clothed defenders unite to sing bread of heaven with equal feverish revere. No boiling atmosphere will be in the stands, however this will still be there in every rugby loving household across both countries today. Both Wales and England have been misfiring this tournament, and both equally could win or lose this. Eddies boys look clunky, void of attacking coherence and out of sorts. However there is also this little feeling that if everything clicks, if the misfire on the England chariot is corrected and the power can come through, then an irresistible force could be released to overwhelm whatever Wales have in store. Yet equally have we the mechanic in Eddie who is able to realise this? Wales have their own grease lightening in young Rees Zammit. He has all the potential and ability to be a quality test player for many years, and it gladdens the soul to see that rugby is still a game for all shapes and sizes where orcs and billy whizzes can still play side by side. Any team with AWJ at the helm will be competitive, and he inspires others to follow, especially at home. Wales do have the ability to get the triple crown, yet like England they have an underlying fragility. Faced with 14 men in opposition for very significant portions of both their opening tests should of meant finishing the stronger, however on both occasions they were hanging on both physically and psychologically...more a marathon runner on both knees lurching for the finish rather than a sprinter flying through the finishing tape. This has been a surprise to me, and something that a very intelligent man such as Pivac would not of missed. Maybe this is what inspired the ‘ive not seen them fitter’ comment from the Welsh this week?
Both games could go either way, both are horribly difficult to call. Results could lead to either rugby nirvana with victory, or the unthinkable emotions of defeat. But the unknown is what keeps us loving our game and coming back time after time. It is the same risk and reward as the regular pre match stadium bought pie. It can either leave you happy, full and content, or sitting on the loo with your head in your hands and your bowels all over the place.....and we would not have it any other way!
Come on Wasps and Come on England!!!
Chris
Once a Wasp, ALWAYS a Wasp!
Topic: Morning all! (Read 1051 times)
Always a Wasp