Always a Wasp
General Category => Wasps Rugby Discussion => Topic started by: Shugs on July 15, 2022, 12:12:51 PM
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Wonder what others think about how next season will pan out. Most recruitment is probably done for most teams (hopefully we’ll add a couple) so who will finish where. I can’t see Bath being as bad as last year but I think there may be a bit of disruption to this years top 4. For us I’m confident we’ll do a deal better than last year but without seeing how our backs go I can’t go top 4. My prediction is:
Saracens
Quins
Gloucester
Tigers
Wasps
Sale
Exeter
Bath
Saints
Bristol
Irish
Falcons
Worcester
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Its going to be another close & competitive season. My thoughts:
Saracens and Tigers will be top 2. Quins & Bristol 3rd & 4th. Sale & Exeter 5th & 6th.
Wasps, Irish and Saints to battle it out for 7th. We need to sign two quality backs and/or Mills & Hartley really have to step up.
I suspect Bath won't dramatically improve next season.
Really hope Newcastle can progress and avoid the relegation fight.
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Steve, isn't relegation still 'paused' for next season?
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I agree about competitiveness.
1. Saracens
2. Leicester
3. Sale
4. Quins
5. Gloucester
6. Saints
7. Wasps
8. Bristol
9. Irish
10. Exeter
11. Bath
12. Worcester
13. Newcastle
Honestly between 1 & 10 is anyone's guess. For me I don't think Wasps are near top 4 yet, if we get a couple academy players turning world class that might change (ain't gonna be via signings). We'll probably be fighting between 5th and 10th again. Not particularly sure we'll be top 6 either!
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Steve, isn't relegation still 'paused' for next season?
Yes the league goes up to 14 then relegation reintroduced.
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I agree about competitiveness.
1. Saracens
2. Leicester
3. Sale
4. Quins
5. Gloucester
6. Saints
7. Wasps
8. Bristol
9. Irish
10. Exeter
11. Bath
12. Worcester
13. Newcastle
Honestly between 1 & 10 is anyone's guess. For me I don't think Wasps are near top 4 yet, if we get a couple academy players turning world class that might change (ain't gonna be via signings). We'll probably be fighting between 5th and 10th again. Not particularly sure we'll be top 6 either!
Kind of agree with this. Can't see Wasps breaking into Top 4.
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I’m in general agreement. Two potential surprises:
Worcester in top 6. Not a pretty team to watch but grinding out results under Diamond.
Leicester miss Genge and Ford and struggle to get in top 6.
I wouldn’t put money on either at less than about 20/1, just throwing them out there and bookmarking this page.
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Agree bind. I think Tigers will struggle compared to last year. Ford was huge for them, a large number of their squad will have had a busy summer and I also think they’ll really miss Moroni (would have been a cracking signing for us).
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I think it will be too close to call. Young players in all squads will hope to get better. Many players have moved on or left the game. The luck of the draw on injuries may well be the deciding factor, rather than perceived deficiencies in some squads. I would hope for improvement and a push in to the top 6.
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Our final position IMHO will depend on how our back division performs.
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Our final position IMHO will depend on how our back division performs.
Sorry to say but I expect lots better without Jimmy. He was a real bottleneck and was ruthlessly targeted by oppo defences.
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Totally agree Ross - albeit we had little option. Maybe we could have played Hartley a bit more.
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Difficult to predict I mean who would have had Tigers down as favourites a year ago?
Personally:
Any team except Wuss & Falcons could be in the top 4.
Tigers, like Quinns last season, may struggle to come top again.
Some under performing teams like bath & Bristol may do better?
The fact its going to be close is great for the game IMO
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Comical..5th Shugs, really?, have you learnt nothing from you last 2 season predictions? Top 4 for both wasn't it?
We are weaker than last 2 season but we'll improve and be pushing just outside top 4..blimey..
Sarries / Tiger top 2
Wasps 9th
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Tigers will struggle a bit, I think Quins will have a resurgence, Saints will really improve. Chiefs I see no further forward. Sarries will be there or abouts
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I think Lee will lose his job if we play as we did last year. Bums on seats will not be obtained by trying to move the drinks cabinet one inch closer to Berlin. It is not about wins, it is about style, I think Lee is assuming the style will develop if the wins come, and we will move forward. I don't think we will.
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I agree about competitiveness.
1. Saracens
2. Leicester
3. Sale
4. Quins
5. Gloucester
6. Saints
7. Wasps
8. Bristol
9. Irish
10. Exeter
11. Bath
12. Worcester
13. Newcastle
Honestly between 1 & 10 is anyone's guess. For me I don't think Wasps are near top 4 yet, if we get a couple academy players turning world class that might change (ain't gonna be via signings). We'll probably be fighting between 5th and 10th again. Not particularly sure we'll be top 6 either!
Kind of agree with this. Can't see Wasps breaking into Top 4.
Seems to be the closest to my way of thinking too. Will be interesting how sale fare without their saffers and Ford injured.
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Comical..5th Shugs, really?, have you learnt nothing from you last 2 season predictions? Top 4 for both wasn't it?
We are weaker than last 2 season but we'll improve and be pushing just outside top 4..blimey..
Sarries / Tiger top 2
Wasps 9th
Yes, stick by it. Last season we were a few brain farts off really pushing for 4th. To be honest it was a toss up 4th or 5th but I wanted to vary it from the last two years.
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Comical..5th Shugs, really?, have you learnt nothing from you last 2 season predictions? Top 4 for both wasn't it?
We are weaker than last 2 season but we'll improve and be pushing just outside top 4..blimey..
Sarries / Tiger top 2
Wasps 9th
Yes, stick by it. Last season we were a few brain farts off really pushing for 4th. To be honest it was a toss up 4th or 5th but I wanted to vary it from the last two years.
I don't think we'll be 4th and I certainly don't think we'll be 9th either.
BTW: Can someone explain the following phrase to me - trying to move the drinks cabinet one inch closer to Berlin. I've only heard it here. I thought I am well read and/or well informed but clearly not :)
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I can't see Saracens finishing top.
They will have 5 of their best players resting after the England tour, and they don't have the backup players like they did.
They will still put out their best team for Europe.
I think they will finish 3rd or 4th.
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And one of their very best performers will be playing for us. Glad you raised the cabinet question Ross, I don’t know either but I took it the inference was negative. Taking all the points about style into account here are 8 reasons I think we can go 4th/5th
West/Cruse/Koch/Launchbury/Stooke/Shields/Willis/Barbeary.
And here are 8 more.
Martinez/Oghre/Ryan/Cardall/McDonald/Curran/Carr/Willis.
And that’s without Alo!
But I freely admit the big risk is that our backs play basically has to be transformed from last year.
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Agree bind. I think Tigers will struggle compared to last year. Ford was huge for them, a large number of their squad will have had a busy summer and I also think they’ll really miss Moroni (would have been a cracking signing for us).
+1 Pollard's good, but not in form currently. And Ford is, so the drop off will be noticeable.
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Agree bind. I think Tigers will struggle compared to last year. Ford was huge for them, a large number of their squad will have had a busy summer and I also think they’ll really miss Moroni (would have been a cracking signing for us).
+1 Pollard's good, but not in form currently. And Ford is, so the drop off will be noticeable.
Wouldn't surprise me if we see a lot more of Freddie Burns, whose confidence will be sky high, than Pollard.
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Comical..5th Shugs, really?, have you learnt nothing from you last 2 season predictions? Top 4 for both wasn't it?
We are weaker than last 2 season but we'll improve and be pushing just outside top 4..blimey..
Sarries / Tiger top 2
Wasps 9th
Yes, stick by it. Last season we were a few brain farts off really pushing for 4th. To be honest it was a toss up 4th or 5th but I wanted to vary it from the last two years.
I don't think we'll be 4th and I certainly don't think we'll be 9th either.
BTW: Can someone explain the following phrase to me - trying to move the drinks cabinet one inch closer to Berlin. I've only heard it here. I thought I am well read and/or well informed but clearly not :)
Blackadder goes forth- the futile bludgeoning of the First World War to gain a bit of territory/ use same tactics. Misquoted , it was six inches!
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I think Gloucester will find things a bit more difficult.
Just like teams "found out" Exeter's rolling maul tactics(or as I prefer to call it it: legal obstruction) so they will with Gloucester's version of it.
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Tigers have a more experienced 9 now that JVP is an International, with excellent kicking and better passing and pace than Youngs.
Their 10 is a world cup winner who has enormous top level experience - he was an U20 International at 16.
They will finish top and probably win the title IMO.
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Comical..5th Shugs, really?, have you learnt nothing from you last 2 season predictions? Top 4 for both wasn't it?
We are weaker than last 2 season but we'll improve and be pushing just outside top 4..blimey..
Sarries / Tiger top 2
Wasps 9th
Yes, stick by it. Last season we were a few brain farts off really pushing for 4th. To be honest it was a toss up 4th or 5th but I wanted to vary it from the last two years.
I don't think we'll be 4th and I certainly don't think we'll be 9th either.
BTW: Can someone explain the following phrase to me - trying to move the drinks cabinet one inch closer to Berlin. I've only heard it here. I thought I am well read and/or well informed but clearly not :)
Blackadder goes forth- the futile bludgeoning of the First World War to gain a bit of territory/ use same tactics. Misquoted , it was six inches!
Lieutenant George : Great Scott sir, you mean, you mean the moment's finally arrived for us to give Harry Hun a darned good British style thrashing, six of the best, trousers down?
Captain Blackadder : If you mean, "Are we all going to get killed?" Yes. Clearly, Field Marshal Haig is about to make yet another gargantuan effort to move his drinks cabinet six inches closer to Berlin.
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Comical..5th Shugs, really?, have you learnt nothing from you last 2 season predictions? Top 4 for both wasn't it?
We are weaker than last 2 season but we'll improve and be pushing just outside top 4..blimey..
Sarries / Tiger top 2
Wasps 9th
Yes, stick by it. Last season we were a few brain farts off really pushing for 4th. To be honest it was a toss up 4th or 5th but I wanted to vary it from the last two years.
I don't think we'll be 4th and I certainly don't think we'll be 9th either.
BTW: Can someone explain the following phrase to me - trying to move the drinks cabinet one inch closer to Berlin. I've only heard it here. I thought I am well read and/or well informed but clearly not :)
Blackadder goes forth- the futile bludgeoning of the First World War to gain a bit of territory/ use same tactics. Misquoted , it was six inches!
It was indeed 6 inches, but one inch sounds better! Apologies for any confusion. I thought Blackadder was commonly understood.
I shall return interfrastically.... :)
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Tigers will still be strong but it will be interesting to see how Reffell copes with playing for Wales and in the prem, I remember it was very tough for Will Rowlands trying to do both.
November particularly could be interesting for Tigers, no SA (Pollard, Wiese) and Argentinians (Montoya) potentially a larger number of England players (JVP, Steward, Chessum, Hayes, Porter etc) plus Reffell absent.
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Unless we find a way to replace the points that Gopps kicked I can't see us breaking into the top six.
And we have to hope that the injury gods smile on us, another season like last season won't help.
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Unless we find a way to replace the points that Gopps kicked I can't see us breaking into the top six.
And we have to hope that the injury gods smile on us, another season like last season won't help.
Agree about Gopperth.
Also if Mills and Odendaal are injured, which is very possible, I have no idea what our plan C is at 12 - Hartley or Simonds are raw (but Hartley definitely has the ingredients, just needs to get up to speed), Spink or Odogwu maybe, or shift a 10 there?
Really could do with another option in there.
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If Atkinson can play like he did against Tigers every game, he could kick a lot of points for us.
Hartley for me looks like a really good centre in the making, and should be doing everything we can to develop him into a world class boy. As others have said, he has the ingredients to be an English Esterhuizen, but he's a long way off.
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Hartley for me looks like a really good centre in the making, and should be doing everything we can to develop him into a world class boy. As others have said, he has the ingredients to be an English Esterhuizen, but he's a long way off.
Yes well said. I’m really excited to see Hartley this season too. Not sure about him being an English Esterhuizen, but I’d settle for that. I can see with his size that it’s a fair comparison but Hartley has a demon side step in his skill set too that proved so effective last season.
Anyhow it’s a reason to be positive about next season
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Hartley for me looks like a really good centre in the making, and should be doing everything we can to develop him into a world class boy. As others have said, he has the ingredients to be an English Esterhuizen, but he's a long way off.
Yes well said. I’m really excited to see Hartley this season too. Not sure about him being an English Esterhuizen, but I’d settle for that. I can see with his size that it’s a fair comparison but Hartley has a demon side step in his skill set too that proved so effective last season.
Anyhow it’s a reason to be positive about next season
Not sure he’s the quickest, remembering back to his time at 15 for the U18s but he has the physicality and the distribution to do very well, as well as a tried relationship with Charlie Atkinson (and Ma’asi-White coming though)
If he can turn out as a Billy 12T or a Mark Atkinson type/quality player over the next 10 years he’d have done well and we’d be lucky to have him.
Simonds seems to be getting some good game time down in Aus too so hopefully he can stay fit and be pushing for selection too.
Saw on Moseley’s list of departing players that Fisilau and Ma’asi-White would not be with them next year and that they would be moving to play at a championship club next year - Nottingham perhaps?
Fin Brown will be playing at Moseley next year and if he can play regularly there that’s a great move for him - has the size, now needs to get some more experience
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Hartley for me looks like a really good centre in the making, and should be doing everything we can to develop him into a world class boy. As others have said, he has the ingredients to be an English Esterhuizen, but he's a long way off.
Yes well said. I’m really excited to see Hartley this season too. Not sure about him being an English Esterhuizen, but I’d settle for that. I can see with his size that it’s a fair comparison but Hartley has a demon side step in his skill set too that proved so effective last season.
Anyhow it’s a reason to be positive about next season
Not sure he’s the quickest, remembering back to his time at 15 for the U18s but he has the physicality and the distribution to do very well, as well as a tried relationship with Charlie Atkinson (and Ma’asi-White coming though)
If he can turn out as a Billy 12T or a Mark Atkinson type/quality player over the next 10 years he’d have done well and we’d be lucky to have him.
Simonds seems to be getting some good game time down in Aus too so hopefully he can stay fit and be pushing for selection too.
Saw on Moseley’s list of departing players that Fisilau and Ma’asi-White would not be with them next year and that they would be moving to play at a championship club next year - Nottingham perhaps?
Fin Brown will be playing at Moseley next year and if he can play regularly there that’s a great move for him - has the size, now needs to get some more experience
Or maybe Ampthill, plenty been there before and additional coaching link of Koch now.
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If he can turn out as a Billy 12T or a Mark Atkinson type/quality player over the next 10 years he’d have done well and we’d be lucky to have him.
That's probably a more realistic and accurate comparison!
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Saw on Moseley’s list of departing players that Fisilau and Ma’asi-White would not be with them next year and that they would be moving to play at a championship club next year - Nottingham perhaps?
Fin Brown will be playing at Moseley next year and if he can play regularly there that’s a great move for him - has the size, now needs to get some more experience
Also interesting to note that Ashley is no longer listed as a player, just as Forwards and Defense coach.