We have a chance for HC rugby.

[backdoc]

You might have thought after the Irish game that our defence would have crumbled.

In fact it has held up pretty well. It is our attack that has crumbled.

Tigers know that they just have to defend averagely well to win comfortably.

Unless something unlikely happens.

[Bloke in North Dorset]

You might have thought after the Irish game that our defence would have crumbled.

In fact it has held up pretty well. It is our attack that has crumbled.

Tigers know that they just have to defend averagely well to win comfortably.

Unless something unlikely happens.

Remember that game when we sent basically a 2nd XV to Sarries and walked away with a massive win? That’s what needs to happen.

No more sentimentality*, let those who have a vested interest in whether or not we play in the HC next season have the last chance.

*h/t backdoc on Backs thread

[backdoc]

Yes - you would think a player like Curran would be a whirling dervish in a game like Tigers. All that pent up energy.

[DGP Wasp]

Best available 23 for Tigers.  It's shit or bust time.  No room for sentimentality with selection and players leaving.  Stooke will be hugely missed of course, but the rest of the squad has 2 weeks to prepare for a game that will define the success or failure of the past 9 months' efforts.  Tigers will be selecting their best available 23 as they, like us have a rest weekend between now and then and they won't want to risk turning up cold for the semi, plus they still have the kudos of finishing top to play for.

This was in our hands, but points were dropped against our 2 closest rivals for that top 8 spot, and a lot of ground conceded, meaning we've been left playing catch up, when we should have got ourselves to where we needed to be by now.  The team will be motivated for this one, but I'm not sure that will be enough.  The equation now could not be simpler.  No ifs or buts as Irish's race is run.  We must win to qualify for the Champions Cup.

[Heathen]

  It's shit or bust time.

Could not have put it better myself!

Last game of the season, the lads have to give every last drop of energy, in pursuit of the cause.

[InBetweenWasp]

Entirely selfishly, I don't mind the prospect of being in the Challenge Cup next year as it might throw up some more interesting Away Days. 

[Neils]

Entirely selfishly, I don't mind the prospect of being in the Challenge Cup next year as it might throw up some more interesting Away Days.

With you on this.

[DGP Wasp]

Entirely selfishly, I don't mind the prospect of being in the Challenge Cup next year as it might throw up some more interesting Away Days.

With you on this.

Yep.  This has always been my consolation in the past when we've not made the cut.  At the moment Clermont are 9th in the Top14 with 1 to play, and Toulon, Toulouse and Lyon all scrapping for the final places so you never know.  Zebre and Treviso have made for great trips in previous years.

[RogerE]

Entirely selfishly, I don't mind the prospect of being in the Challenge Cup next year as it might throw up some more interesting Away Days.

Absolutely agree.

A year in the, then called, Parker Pen cup started the revival of Wasps back in early noughties. Also the trip to Viadana a few years ago was brilliant.

[jamestaylor002]

I think the Challenge Cup would do us wonders as well. From a rugby perspective, I imagine being handed pastings by the likes of Leinster hardly do us any good - even if being in the HC is lucrative from a business perspective.

I'm also interested in getting a few European weekends under my belt and I think I'd be more interested in some of the Challenge Cup destinations rather than the places Wasps regularly play.

[hopwood]

The only issue with the Challenge Cup is that it might discourage any high profile players we were trying to bring in at this late date...if indeed we are trying still.

[welsh wasp]

The last (only?) time we won the Challenge Cup, beating Bath, we followed up with the Champions Cup the next season.
Remember we beat Leicester at home - which none of us expected. 

[Shugs]

Completely understand the travel/destination angle. But the mentality of it being a good thing to be in the sub-standard competition is dangerous. All of a sudden it’s accepted. A club such as Wasps should be pushing top 4, nailed on top six and Heineken Cup every year. Anything else isn’t good enough.

[DGP Wasp]

Completely understand the travel/destination angle. But the mentality of it being a good thing to be in the sub-standard competition is dangerous. All of a sudden it’s accepted. A club such as Wasps should be pushing top 4, nailed on top six and Heineken Cup every year. Anything else isn’t good enough.

This isn't a mentality thing, and no-one has said it's "a good thing to be in the sub-standard competition".  It's  just a personal (and slightly selfish) angle for travelling Wasps supporters.

I don't think for one minute the players and coaches are thinking about new and interesting weekend destinations as some kind of consolation for not playing against the very best.

What do you mean by "All of a sudden it’s accepted"?  As supporters, what choice do we have?  That is reality.  We either continue to support the team or we walk away.  Yes, we're disappointed to miss out on the Champions' Cup (assuming we do) and expect more of the team, but guess what, so do supporters of every other Premiership club outside of the top 4, and the reality is there will only ever be 4 teams in the top 4.  Saracens, Leicester, Quins, Saints, Exeter, Gloucester, Bristol, Bath, Sale as well as Wasps all started the season with some aspirations of top 4, or at least European qualification, and some of those have fallen a lot further short of pre-season expectations than Wasps have.  Bottom line is, if Wasps were relegated to the Championship (God forbid!), then as a supporter I'd suck it up and start looking at flights to Jersey and hotels in Penzance!

I want Wasps to improve and succeed as much as the next person, but eventually I have to accept the reality I am presented with here and now.

[InBetweenWasp]

The only issue with the Challenge Cup is that it might discourage any high profile players we were trying to bring in at this late date...if indeed we are trying still.

That's fair.  Although if we're in contention to qualify for 2023/24, perhaps it's less of an issue. 

Wonder what it means for money to the Club.  Are there bigger TV rights for the Champions Cup vs Challenge Cup? It's the same numbers of Group Homes games otherwise, right? and presumably a KO match likely to be well attended either way. 

I wonder if the finances aren't so different, but totally get the 'pull' factor to incoming players to be playing in the Champions Cup.