Player Ratings !!

[Neils]

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/wasps-player-ratings-ali-crossdale-25044407

[Shugs]

Fair enough. Felt T Willis had a point to prove when moved to 8. Kibirige at 5 is hugely generous.

[JonnyD]

Think that’s a bit harsh on Porter, don’t think he did a lot wrong apart from a few long box kicks.

Not sure Robson added anything and made a few costly mistakes himself

[Heathen]

A few of those scores seem to be a tad generous.

[WonkyWasp]

Thought Will was pretty good apart from a couple of box kicks, and was fast and accurate elsewhere, and that Tom W showed Alfie and Lee how 8 should be properly played.

[InBetweenWasp]

Was surprised to read that a good number of folk on this board felt Dan was better than Porter when he came on.  In both weeks now, I think our 9s have been going well without any real need for changing at the times they were changed.

Some short memories on here at times it feels like, last season Alfie’s carrying was far better than Willis’, this year it doesn’t seem that way.

Both Billy and Hughes had to adapt a season or two in where people worked out how to cut them off in the tackle.  Also, both struggled for a time after losing a few pounds - Alfie’s recently spoken about sorting out his lifestyle and looks to have leaned out a bit. Wonder how this is impacting him.

He certainly needs to evolve and begin to not try to take on teams himself and understand he’s a very effective decoy as a power runner.  Not passing to Porter on his inside shoulder early on the game to put him in under the sticks was criminal, for example.

But some of the comments on this board about Alfie are cringeworthy - 4th best No.8 for us and a better Hooker than No.8 etc…

[Mellie]

Think that’s a bit harsh on Porter, don’t think he did a lot wrong apart from a few long box kicks.

Not sure Robson added anything and made a few costly mistakes himself

Will was slow arriving at a few breakdowns, which affected momentum since everyone just waited for him. Getting players to effect quick clearout (we're not that good at it) and swift distribution (Dobby was woefully slow last season) is key to good attacking approach as it sucks in defensive cover, when done at pace, leading to gaps from which scores are created.

I think Wasps fundamental issue is our inability to create quick ball at breakdowns when we have the ball. That's leading to us trying to do it in open play with Hail Mary offloads, snatched passes and loss of composure. That is definitely a coaching failure.

When we do it well, such as Crossdale clear out for Brad's try last week, we scored.

Another issue is when we're close to the opposition try line we use 1 out runners to try to batter through and they are inevitably stopped. After lots of phases getting nowhere we then try a backs move under pressure and lose the ball. That's another coaching failure.

We should try using a support runner who can either drive the carrier or smuggle the ball and either swivel round the corner through a gap or offload to a player running round behind to exploit space out wide.