Always a Wasp

Perhaps he would like a job!

I think the game shows how defence is far harder to coach and get right as it depends so much more on whole team coordination. It was clear again that having a never played together midfield meant that whilst go forwards was handicapped a little, compared say to Jimmy and Daly at 12 and 13, the real problem is in defence.

It took JdeJ probably 4 games to get comfortable with the players and their defensive alignments, and he is a player that we all now think of as being a good defender. Kyle was just back off injury and looked only half fit, at times and Watson is a bit hit or miss for me.

Wade and Cips both got stuck in individually, and Wade kept us in the game with that tackle on Visser. But tactically we were inept. Yet again we let another team back in by our mistakes. If Cips had just banged the incept into touch.......and twice, players didn't make the simple pass.

However....if this gets the action required to improve matters, then it was almost worth the shouting at the screen......

The writing was on the wall vs Bath. That many points up, the ABs, as an example would make sure  that they did not let the opposition back into the game, even if that meant banging the ball into the corners, taking some contact and mentally regrouping, so that any come back is contained at minimum damage before pushing on. At present, Wasps appear to want to just play 7s regardless. Quins should not have been given a sniff, as this game mattered a lot to Wasps.

The better news will be going into games later in the season with 7 plus first choices starting, fresh, and having an excellent bench to back the first xv up. Also, with Daly and Hughes and Mullan and Taylor out, Eddie can't injure any of them!

The Watson incidence could have changed the game too. The jump shoud have been a penalty the other way, the BT team though so, and offside was  oddly tackled too, Bath seemed to be allowed some slack, and the scrum  was a lottery, for this ex prop, in those conditions, the ref ought to call play it

Overall, Wasps game management was second to their exuberance,  which is fine, but at 19 up, there is more than one way to skin a cat, and a chip to the corner is just ax good if not better than a flash move that hands momentum and possession back to Bath

All in all great entertainment if rather stressful  at times!

This backline, in the absence of Daly, was my choice........for a warm and dry March game....living 12 miles north of Bath, I hope they have the ground covered, or else it will be like a swamp, worse than usual. That said, given near parity of ball, and we ought to score a few. Good to see Watson on the team, be fun to see who is the faster brother!  Will probably need a big game from Hask and the others to make sure this game is fast and lose when we want and we don't give the Bath backs time to roam, and they will be itching for a better performance post Sale.

It might be the friendship he has developed with Kyle and seeing how ferocious a person of his size can tackle. Also wearing a scrum cap gives him the confidence his hair is going to be perfect at the end!!

I think that may be a factor, but I'd guess the defence coach may have had a word.

I never thought about a scrum cap for my hair, when I had any.........an oversight je  pense !

It's Christmas so i'm looking for every silver lining at the moment.

Come crunch time (March-May), a significant portion of our first choice players will have had a good rest and will be desperate to play and make a difference.
TT, Mullan, Symons, Rieder, Jones, Hughes, Gopperth, Daly would likely all be involved in a matchday 23 if they all recover fully.

If we're still involved in a battle for top4 come March, then it may make all the difference

This was my thought too, might have a v fresh team come spring, let's hope there is something to still play for.

Re Jimmy, I meant more in terms of cover at 10. Cips kicks fine, but he will need to play every game?