I haven’t seen the game as I’m overseas, but if Claire Hodson was TMO then we’ve never had anything out of her. I remember West getting a swinging arm which wrapped around his neck whilst fully standing up at Leicester a couple of seasons ago, which she completely ignored only to pull up one of ours shortly after for a yellow. I just feel she’s a tick in the RFU’s PC column and in all the games I’ve seen she adds zero value.
Regardless though, I think Wombles nails our problem with TCUP (think clearly under pressure). Another ‘Sir Cliveism’ is the real difference is the best are just 1% better all round. There’s a lot of very good players in the GP, and there is a fine line between them and those with real quality. Unfortunately we’ve lost a lot of the real quality over the last couple of years due to cost, and the reason why MacDonald is very good, rather than top quality, is that he drops restarts at critical times under pressure. These are the pressure points which quality sides win, and we’ve got a habit of losing these little moments now.
In a lots of ways it’s a mindset, and good coaches make a difference here. Look at McCullum and the England test team - one win in 17 games before he came in. Under him the same players and support coaches have beaten all comers and won (I think) 7 out of 8 this Summer. I don’t know how he’s done it, but a lots of players have said he’s taken the pressure off them as individuals and given them self belief. We keep losing the critical moments and this becomes self fulfilling every time.
Anyway, it may be immaterial in a few days time. Let’s hope the RFU and Premiership can find a way to be as lenient with Wasps as they are with their beloved Saracens, who I think got off very lightly and still haven’t been properly punished even though they refused to open their books. I can’t see how they are yet fully compliant, and by letting good clubs and their thousands of fans go to the wall whilst allowing the likes of the cheats to flourish and dominate, they are failing English rugby and driving people away from the game.
Always a Wasp
