Morning NWW, Westy, WW, Heathen, Hookender, Neils, Ross, Shuggs, Mike, Steve and all Waspies from a beautifully sunny Guildford. Coffee, home made veggie breakfast and rugby paper sans six nations pull out, which I will read later, completed. Now looking forward to a sunny walk in the Surrey hills before throwing the casserole into the slow cooker prior to -hopefully- watching our lads take on Saracens.
In sport part of our passion comes not only from loving our team, but also having a dislike of the team we are about to face. It can ramp up emotions and make things a little more sweet when we win, yet more painful when we lose. This dislike is not extended to the players of the club -although over the years some make that thought harder than it should be- and certainly not to the wonderful fans who love their club just as much as we do ours. Indeed I would leave the game tomorrow if we started behaving like football fans, because sharing time and company with fellow rugby supporters from all clubs is one of the best things about the game. And on playing the game after going hell for leather against each other, clapping each other off, congratulating or commiserating and then sharing food and a few beers together means the world and teaches us about respect and fair play.
And it is to the last sentence above as to why when we play Saracens we are battling a club that forgot those two values over many years in a desire to win at all costs. We still await a public apology to the wider game from them, and some trying to downplay the cheating as simply ‘reckless’ whilst failing to recognise its definition in law as;
‘the state of mind where a person deliberately and unjustifiably pursues a course of action while consciously disregarding any risks flowing from such action’.
By tilting the tables unfairly in their direction they ignored the true values of our game, and gained an unfair advantage over other teams to ensure silverware. It damaged our game, it was damaging to other teams and until they show true contrition then forgiveness cannot be earned.
They are a team however who deserve respect on how well they are doing this season. They are playing well, and deserve their position on the table. With international call ups they are not fully loaded, but will still be a formidable opponent today that we will need to be at our best to overcome. Thankfully having Joe and Malakai back is a boon, but they will need time to get match fitness into their legs. Yet I still feel after watching our game against Munster last week we are targeting the league, not only against Sarries today and Exeter next week, but throughout the six nations, to move up the table and into champions cup rugby.
This game should be banjo tight, and one to savour, and like when us English play Scotland for the Calcutta cup, getting one over the auld enemy or a team that has wronged is still a high or low that we would not do without.
Come on you Wasps!
Chris
Once a Wasp ALWAYS a Wasp.
Rugby by birth. Wasps by the grace of God.
Topic: Good morning all. (Read 943 times)
Always a Wasp