Always a Wasp
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Joe Simpson
« on: December 11, 2022, 10:31:11 PM »
One of my favourite ever players. Spent years playing behind a Wasps pack that went backwards and yet still pulled some amazing plays out of the bag. Like greased lightning. Frustrating at times, lost count of the number of times I’d shout just bloody pass it Joe, but I wouldn’t have swapped him for any other scrum half. Thank you Joe.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Ex Wasps signing for new clubs
« on: November 15, 2022, 06:53:00 AM »I think you’re right NWW. But it all comes down to cash. By my reckoning those that have not got another club so far are West, Harris, Martinez, Oghre, Cruse, Millar-Mills, Cardall, Stooke, Spink, Odendaal, Kibirige, Curran, Hayden-Wood, Hougaard, Nearchou, Van Vuuren and Wolstenholme. That group plus a few others would easily win the championship. It’s all down to whether we have the cash.I was under the impression that some of those had already gone or on the brink of a deal; Odendaal, Hougard, Cardall, Stooke?
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Feeling quite melancholy
« on: October 16, 2022, 03:23:45 PM »
Yup, I’m feeling pretty much the same. It dawned on me yesterday that the hopeful fascination of watching JW finding his best form had started to come true, and that we had a crop of youngsters becoming men in front of our eyes this season with all the expectation and achievement that was to bring. It just feels like rugby itself has been taken away from me. Christ knows how all the people actually involved must feel. And I never got to see a world class TH take the field for my team. Such an empty feeling.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Wasps v Northampton Saints: Post match thoughts.
« on: October 09, 2022, 11:54:58 PM »
Those McDonald kick-off cock-ups were a killer today sadly. As costly as the Umaga red was, those were more of an influence. Really felt for the lads today, they deserved to win that.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: LBND in the Times this morning
« on: September 30, 2022, 12:23:08 PM »Not from Wasps, but from someone in a position to have some knowledge (sorry for being vague, it is deliberately so).Thanks for sharing that Raggs.
What he's hearing is that Wuss (as we already know) are in big trouble, but there's no real concern about Wasps at the moment. Feeling is Wasps will get through this without issue. Also suggested that as Wasps voluntarily started the administration process, that may effect the potential of being relegated too (as in, it won't effect them). Hopefully it doesn't get that far anyway.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Match Thread
« on: September 28, 2022, 10:04:33 PM »That was surprisingly disappointing. I agree with a lot of what's been said here.Good summary. I was similarly quietly impressed with McArthur. He made an impression when he came on and didn’t disgrace himself in the scrum.
In terms of players the generally positive for me were:
Fisilau - as others said, agree with Healy: great engine and work-rate, looks to have a good rugby brain too, ran some good lines. Just out muscled a bit. A year with S&C and the dietician putting on 4-5kgs while keeping the energy round the park could see him become very effective considering he's only 19.
McArthur - the scrum wasn't as dominant in the second half when Martinez went off, but it didn't go backwards despite Tigers bringing on the very experienced Leatigaga. Round the park he looked full of energy, quick, hit hard. He reminds me a bit of Matt Mullan. More scrum experience and I think he could be a player. Should have had a try too.
Hartley - best of our youngsters. Looks to have a high rugby IQ - made some very good decisions, big boot, strong. Definitely a 12 for me though. I wouldn't have him ahead of Burger or Mills yet, he missed a lot of rugby last year so some more games for Ampthill and PRC but he's the next cab if one of them is unavailable IMO.
Craven - I liked Monye but Craven is a step up as an academy 9. Everything apart from the box kicking was strong. Quick to the ruck, accurate passes, good support lines. Could have taken charge a bit more when we were camped on their line.
Haydon-Wood - Mostly played well. Good in the air, passing, decision making for the most part etc. Wasn't too impressed by his kicking out of hand though. quite a few of his kicks would have been punished far more if Jed Walsh wasn't wearing clown shoes - won't get those chances against the likes of Biggar, Farrel, Ford etc - so would have liked to see more of his running game.
Dawkins - Fumbled a pass early but took his try really well. Reminded me a bit of Caden Murley.
Disspointments:
Curran - I've been a big fan of Keiran's and have been hoping this will be his breakthrough year but in all honesty, he was outplayed by his opposite number in every respect. Two scrums he was very slow to get away from and as a 7 that's not great as you leave your 10 very exposed.
Simonds - Some good passes but also some bad decision making. A couple of times he looked like he didn't know what to do and dithered and made a silly error in the double roll.
Vukasinovic - Mostly for not having a plan to stop their maul which crushed us. He should have been lineout leader and mixing up how we defended. We put a jumper up almost every time and they had no impact and left us exposed. Could have tried sacking the catcher as soon as they landed or setting for the drive. Also missed a couple of tackles.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Match Thread
« on: September 24, 2022, 12:12:40 AM »
What’s happened to Dobbie? Couple of days ago it was madness to start Porter….
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Bath v Wasps: Post Match Thoughts.
« on: September 24, 2022, 12:03:52 AM »Opinions are allowed, I refer you to my previous post. Personally I’m not so sure Bath wouldn’t have scored regardless. Just my opinion of course.I was agreeing with the fact that we were in trouble before JW went off. You speculate what you want.YupI don't think Bath would have got even close to touching distance if Jack had not been binned.
Nah, there was a momentum swing before Willis went off. It was part of it.
Still, Bath scored 2 tries (both converted) when we were a man light in the pack when Jack was off. I still contend they wouldn't have got close if Jack hadn't copped for that yellow.
Kind of you to allow me. At least one poster on Bath's board agrees with my 'speculation'.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Bath v Wasps: Post Match Thoughts.
« on: September 24, 2022, 12:01:19 AM »A good performance from Bassett, especially his first try. Also very good in following up kicks and challenging whoever was waiting to catch the ball.Bassett always gives 100%, always has. Sometimes the ball comes to him with enough space to work in (tonight) and sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes the kicks are good and sometimes they’re aimless. He can’t make a silk purse out of a pig’s ear. It happened for him tonight. As for Kibirige, how can he tear it up when he’s got sweet FA to work with? He’s had naff all decent ball so far this year. Did Hougaard tear it up before he went off?
What’s happened to Kibiridge? He started so well with us.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Bath v Wasps: Post Match Thoughts.
« on: September 23, 2022, 11:54:25 PM »I was agreeing with the fact that we were in trouble before JW went off. You speculate what you want.YupI don't think Bath would have got even close to touching distance if Jack had not been binned.
Nah, there was a momentum swing before Willis went off. It was part of it.
Still, Bath scored 2 tries (both converted) when we were a man light in the pack when Jack was off. I still contend they wouldn't have got close if Jack hadn't copped for that yellow.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Bath v Wasps: Post Match Thoughts.
« on: September 23, 2022, 11:52:30 PM »
Big thing for me was that in the first two games we actually looked like a team that would win a lot of games, Ugo’s stats confirmed that before the match. In spite of the doom and gloom on here over our play pre-Bath I saw that we were creating a lot of problems for teams which we haven’t been doing for the last couple of years. And we’re doing this with loads of youth (admittedly these youths are starting to get a little bit older/experienced).
In spite of the second half tonight, ahem, the biggest issue for me is STILL our maul. For well over 10 years now we’ve comfortably had the worst maul in the league, attacking and defensively. Every now and then we improve a little but tonight we were back to normal. I hate that it’s such a crucial part of the game but Jesus wept, how can every other team pass muster on this but we haven’t for over 10 years? We’re finally addressing our scrum problems through personnel (not before time) but we’re not gonna win the league until we can maul. I know we’ve got bigger problems at the moment but from a coaching side? Whack the obvious mole. Glad to have won tonight though. Great backrow performance. I thought Jack was a certain red card with no complaints. Good to see a bit of sense coming through though. Agreed with Blackett about momentum reffing in the post-match interview, but reffing will never be perfect.
In spite of the second half tonight, ahem, the biggest issue for me is STILL our maul. For well over 10 years now we’ve comfortably had the worst maul in the league, attacking and defensively. Every now and then we improve a little but tonight we were back to normal. I hate that it’s such a crucial part of the game but Jesus wept, how can every other team pass muster on this but we haven’t for over 10 years? We’re finally addressing our scrum problems through personnel (not before time) but we’re not gonna win the league until we can maul. I know we’ve got bigger problems at the moment but from a coaching side? Whack the obvious mole. Glad to have won tonight though. Great backrow performance. I thought Jack was a certain red card with no complaints. Good to see a bit of sense coming through though. Agreed with Blackett about momentum reffing in the post-match interview, but reffing will never be perfect.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Bath v Wasps: Post Match Thoughts.
« on: September 23, 2022, 11:34:13 PM »I'll give credit to the lads. They played well for 40-50 mins, especially considering everything going on off the pitch. I was proud to support this team, irrespective of my frustrations.Yup. That Odendaal offload had me giggling like a little girl. But yup to all of that. I like Umaga but there’s still the odd moment of half-heartedness that annoys. Couple of high balls he wimped out of tonight again. He has so much going for him, I just wanna shake him. Look at Atkinson, and how he has NEVER shied away from the battle.
That said, we really do collapse quite easily. Really bizarre, it was something Gloucester struggled with for years. Looks like we've caught the bug now.
Umaga was better for distribution, but then again was he just doing what Atkinson has been doing prior? His lack of pace compared to Crossdale cost us a try, and he still doesn't feel like an actual fullback.
Tom and Jack were fantastic (aside from Jack's Yellow, Tom could've also got a yellow for a similar incident).
Odendaal's offload to Porter was outrageous filth, genuinely thought it was intercepted.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Bath v Wasps: Post Match Thoughts.
« on: September 23, 2022, 11:29:02 PM »YupI don't think Bath would have got even close to touching distance if Jack had not been binned.
Nah, there was a momentum swing before Willis went off. It was part of it.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Wasps facing relegation
« on: September 22, 2022, 07:09:44 PM »+1This board is full of people always looking for a free stream or paying the foreign market rate via a VPN to watch the local product. How do you increase revenues when everyone wants it for free?
I'd just like to point out that if you pay a foreign streamer, then indirectly you will still be paying PRL, as the stream you subscribe to, will be rented from PRL. I am one of those who do this. I have always paid over the several years that I have been watching streamed rugby. I started doing this with Rugbypass as I could watch every Wasps' game live. I didn't have to pay either Sky and/or BT. I don't want to pay for other sports such as football that are included in their expensive subscription packages. I only want to watch rugby and nothing else. I would abandon my foreign stream if PRTV showed all games, rather than just the ones that are not being broadcast by Sky or BT. Yes, I do save myself some money. FWIW. I have never used a 'free' stream, particularly the one that comes out of Russia.
I would also add that it's regularly stated here that people would love to pay Wasps for a WaspsTV type subscription.
The majority of fans aren't against paying to watch rugby. Most are against paying for the other stuff they won't watch offered by sky etc.
Admittedly, I have more subscriptions for TV and sport than I care to think about.... But there's still a lot of games that it wasn't possible to watch
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Teams Up for Bath
« on: September 22, 2022, 12:41:36 PM »
As defensively excellent as Hougaard is, he’s not my idea of a threatening winger. Selection seems all over the shop to me.