Always a Wasp
General Category => Wasps Rugby Discussion => Topic started by: Vespula Vulgaris on August 16, 2020, 03:03:09 PM
-
Figured we should have somewhere to discuss it.
-
Dickson being pretty quick with the whistle, let's hope we adjust well.
-
Can't say he's wrong so far though, annoying, not much in it, but hopefully we make the tweaks.
-
Another penalty against us and Biggar slots the 3.
-
Looks like we've been practicing the restart though, Beautiful kick from Jacob.
-
Looks like we've been practicing the restart though, Beautiful kick from Jacob.
He was doing those really well last season as well, he has a very very good boot.
-
Bassett sees the space and no-one can touch him!
-
Jimmy slots the extras!
3-7
-
Whoops.
-
We're gonna need to either get a handle on these penalties, or force the ball to stay in their half if we're gonna win this.
6-7
-
Why does Willis get penalised immediately, but Lawes gets 3 warnings?
-
Why does Willis get penalised immediately, but Lawes gets 3 warnings?
In that maul? Because it was already slow messy ball regardless of Lawes' actions, whereas Willis killed a fast attack.
-
Willis dives over from in close.
-
Jimmy slots it again.
6-14
-
Stunning tackle from Fekitoa forcing the knock on killing their momentum.
-
Loving the solidity of our scrum, not necessarily looking to push it for yards, but instead provide a very solid platform, with maybe a slight shove to get on the front foot.
-
High tackle from Feki, can he avoid a red?
-
Yellow is a bit of a relief. Annoying, but there we go.
-
Yellow, probably fair in reality. Can we survive being a man down?
-
Players dipped into it, so wasnt high for red.
No one looked at stamp on Launchers head..wtf?
-
Players dipped into it, so wasnt high for red.
No one looked at stamp on Launchers head..wtf?
I missed that too. Who was it?
-
Nice turnover from Shields.
-
Players dipped into it, so wasnt high for red.
No one looked at stamp on Launchers head..wtf?
I missed that too. Who was it?
naiyaravoro. Didn’t look like his boot was trying to find grass
-
Dan Robson has struggled with accuracy today.
Some of his passes have been all over the place.
-
Players dipped into it, so wasnt high for red.
No one looked at stamp on Launchers head..wtf?
I missed that too. Who was it?
Narayavora..its was well hidden but was clearly intentional on that break..not happy. with it.
-
“ naiyaravoro. Didn’t look like his boot was trying to find grass”
I agree.
Should have been checked.
-
Players dipped into it, so wasnt high for red.
No one looked at stamp on Launchers head..wtf?
I thought this too. Reckless use of the boot if nothing else?
-
Maybe it will be picked up by the citing officer.
-
Players dipped into it, so wasnt high for red.
No one looked at stamp on Launchers head..wtf?
I thought this too. Reckless use of the boot if nothing else?
Maybe the citing officer will get it, won't help us immediately, but might help us over the course of rht next few weeks.
-
So far this looks a little like a match between Willis and Lawes, and Willis is coming out on top.
Clock ticking down on Fekitoa's yellow.
-
So far this looks a little like a match between Willis and Lawes, and Willis is coming out on top.
Clock ticking down on Fekitoa's yellow.
We've managed the clock very well.
-
Brookes off with what looks like a nasty arm injury. Can JTA step up now?
-
Both scrum half’s struggling.
-
I'm imagining the ball is probably rather greasy, won't help a scrum half with long passes.
-
Fek not having his best game..but so far so good.
-
Well - that's ok - ball in space looking good. Organisation a bit rusty, and Jimmy going well.
Fingers crossed that the rain radar is wrong...but not looking great SE of N'hampton, sadly.
Hoping to see Ryan Mills get a run out.
-
6-14 at half time.
I'll happily take that. We seem to have a more coherent squad, but there isn't a lot in it. Fekitoa's tackling is good but he needs to watch his positioning, and Willis is the beast he usually is.
-
"Looks like we've been practicing the restart though, Beautiful kick from Jacob."
Josh is getting a bit ahead of Jacob, but most teams do it and if you're getting away with ....
-
Our phase play looked a bit lost, but our set piece play has been amazing.
-
Players dipped into it, so wasnt high for red.
No one looked at stamp on Launchers head..wtf?
I thought this too. Reckless use of the boot if nothing else?
Nah he was pumping his legs through the tackle and unfortunately caught Launch in the face. Don't think there was any intent.
We did really well to concede 0 points with a man down. Attack picking up where we left off, looking sharp. Willis a menace at the breakdown as before, Shields also defending and carrying very well. Hopefully we can get hold of the ball a bit more in the 2nd half as we look very dangerous with it but are giving pens away in defence.
Saints not looking hugely creative, mostly just getting it into Naiyaravoro's hands but we're dealing with that OK for now.
-
Players dipped into it, so wasnt high for red.
No one looked at stamp on Launchers head..wtf?
I thought this too. Reckless use of the boot if nothing else?
Nah he was pumping his legs through the tackle and unfortunately caught Launch in the face. Don't think there was any intent.
We did really well to concede 0 points with a man down. Attack picking up where we left off, looking sharp. Willis a menace at the breakdown as before, Shields also defending and carrying very well. Hopefully we can get hold of the ball a bit more in the 2nd half as we look very dangerous with it but are giving pens away in defence.
Saints not looking hugely creative, mostly just getting it into Naiyaravoro's hands but we're dealing with that OK for now.
I think squidge rugby has got Saints down very well, they're not inventive in attack, but as soon as there's a small error, either a half missed tackle, or a defender moving in to help, that's when they strike.
-
For the first time saints capitalise on their pressure.
13-14
-
Much better by Robson.
-
Great response from the team.
13-21
-
Starting to rain...
Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
-
Great defensive set on the line and not conceding a penalty.
-
Players dipped into it, so wasnt high for red.
No one looked at stamp on Launchers head..wtf?
I thought this too. Reckless use of the boot if nothing else?
Nah he was pumping his legs through the tackle and unfortunately caught Launch in the face. Don't think there was any intent.
Watch it again, he changed his step..like i said, well hidden.
-
I’m loving our defence today.
Really impressive.
-
Bit sad we didn't go for the corner there. Nice healthy lead try for the bonus point.
Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
-
I thought they'd go for the corner, but going more than 1 score clear when the weather is getting worse is probably sensible.
-
Bit sad we didn't go for the corner there. Nice healthy lead try for the bonus point.
Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
Take the easy 3, keep the board ticking, push it that bit further away so Saints need to push even harder.
-
Yeah i know. And I know there's still 20. Just felt like we had some momentum
Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
-
One man down again after a fairly blatant deliberate knock on from Sops
-
Stone cold yellow, but probably the right option by Sopoaga.
-
Those 3 pts might be very valuable now.
-
Disagree.
Thought Lima should have shown patience rather than impulse.
-
And they immediately take advantage of the extra man with a drive over.
18-24
-
Biggar misses the extras.
-
Absorbing too much pressure..Robson getting ponderous again
-
Breakdown getting "random"
Penalised after rolling? Ball available.
-
The have been some ridiculous calls by the ref today. How is he allowed to ref a saints match given the family connection to the club
-
The have been some ridiculous calls by the ref today. How is he allowed to ref a saints match given the family connection to the club
I genuinely don't believe that's an issue. I just think that call was really harsh, otherwise I think he's had a pretty good game.
-
The have been some ridiculous calls by the ref today. How is he allowed to ref a saints match given the family connection to the club
He pinged Biggar who was miles away.
-
Time for a drop kick?
-
The have been some ridiculous calls by the ref today. How is he allowed to ref a saints match given the family connection to the club
He pinged Biggar who was miles away.
Same as the Rowlands one, consistent application.
-
Penalty, better still
-
The have been some ridiculous calls by the ref today. How is he allowed to ref a saints match given the family connection to the club
He pinged Biggar who was miles away.
Same as the Rowlands one, consistent application.
And that's what we ask for.
-
And breathe!
-
And breathe!
Until the final whistle I can't.
-
That was a thing of beauty.
-
JTA spent 5 months scrummaging by the look of it!
-
And breathe!
Until the final whistle I can't.
Spoil sport
-
Word for JTA who had a good game
-
If we can just keep them away from the bonus point too, that'll help.
-
Wasps have closed out this game very well indeed.
Showed real maturity.
Super from Young, Shields and Willis.
Great pack performance.
And impressive defensive effort by all.
Top 4.
-
And breathe.
-
Well that was something a little special.
-
Only in my wildest dreams - BP win and denied them.
-
Only in my wildest dreams - BP win and denied them.
+1
Just great - fab last try. Large G&T required before dinner now......
-
I didn't expect us to come away with five points, which probably says more about my predictive capabilities.
A small return to normal life, but very welcome nonetheless.
-
Well, our scrum is a bit tasty isn't it? And our backs looking sharp as before. Huge win. Yes away from home doesn't quite mean what it normally does, but still that's a really important 5 points against a rival for the top 4. We can catch Sale.
-
Great game, pack were very impressive in defence as was the Umaga/Gopperth channel.
Robson again showing his class.
Such a shame for a Brookes to pick up an injury having waited so long to get back into action. Looked like a dislocation to me.
Time for Alo, Owlett and JTA to really step up now as they’ll all be involved each week now unless Hunt is trusted with some bench appearances
-
Fantastic result for the lads. Very, very pleased.
-
Well that was great. So many good signs and individual performances. Our combination of what we do at the breakdown plus our ability to shred teams ball in hand is going to take us a long way. Set piece solid, clinical in the red zone and some fantastic tries. Defensively we looked cohesive and razor sharp in attack. Some great individual performances (how good is our back row) but more importantly we really played as a team.
-
Well done Wasps. Scored some fabulous tries, especially the last one, I was worried in those last 10 minutes? I was very impressed with our attack.
I'll admit discipline was poor, but defence wasn't bad.
I'm shocked saints never scored their traditional fabulous tries (compared to Saints last visit to the Ricoh) quite shocking they didn't score any like we know they can.
On the whole I'm ecstatic with this win. Hope we keep getting better and score more incredible tries.
-
Best game of the weekend by far. And we did it with 20 minutes of only 14 men. Must admit I thought some of the changes were early but it worked. Jeff TA got a long stint and didn't disgrace. Hope Brookes isn't too crocked.
-
Excellent.
Shout out to Ian Costello who was sometimes vilified by certain posters (mainly on the other site).
Willis was outstanding. I have been critical of Bassett In the past but I thought he was excellent. Umaga was class. First half scrum was very solid and put Saints on the back foot.
Fekitoa, Sopoaga and Toomaga-Allen discipline needs to be much better.
-
Well, our scrum is a bit tasty isn't it? And our backs looking sharp as before. Huge win. Yes away from home doesn't quite mean what it normally does, but still that's a really important 5 points against a rival for the top 4. We can catch Sale.
We're fourth, Sale and Bears can be caught.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/english-premiership/table (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/english-premiership/table)
Up to date from the Beeb
-
Excellent.
Shout out to Ian Costello who was sometimes vilified by certain posters (mainly on the other site).
Gleeson seems to have a more high profile role as well now.
-
Well, our scrum is a bit tasty isn't it? And our backs looking sharp as before. Huge win. Yes away from home doesn't quite mean what it normally does, but still that's a really important 5 points against a rival for the top 4. We can catch Sale.
We're fourth, Sale and Bears can be caught.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/english-premiership/table (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/english-premiership/table)
Up to date from the Beeb
Yeah fair point, I guess I see us as much more likely to catch Sale as they looked as fluid as pudding in their opening game.
-
Dan Robson has struggled with accuracy today.
Some of his passes have been all over the place.
I agree - one or two loose passes but his support running was excellent.
-
Players dipped into it, so wasnt high for red.
No one looked at stamp on Launchers head..wtf?
I missed that too. Who was it?
naiyaravoro. Didn’t look like his boot was trying to find grass
Video of it here: https://twitter.com/georgeheminway/status/1295012126176804864?s=08
-
Thanks for posting. I wonder if more will be made of it.
-
I missed the kick, but I caught Joe looking indignant.
-
There was a slow motion replay of the move from another angle during commentary which really looked bad.
However the commentators failed to pick it up.
I hope it gets looked at.
Joe could have easily lost an eye.
-
Very happy with that performance. Any concerns over whether Shields can play 8 have been answered with a definite yes. Willis and Young exceptional. Pack fronted up and defence didn't give much away all day. Backs didn't do a great deal in attack but took their chances.
Dobby had some iffy moments at 9 and I felt Brookes was poor in the loose before his injury. Given how JTA has improved his scrummaging, I am not sure Brookes would make the first choice 23 when the need to rest players has stopped. Lima's yellow was poor. If he actually went to catch the ball rather than to knock it down I think he'd have been in for a try.
Didn't agree with some of Karl Dickson's decisions in the second half, but proud of how we dug in when momentum was slipping away.
Pick of the bunch was the final try. It would have been exceptional in the dry but given the weather was simply devine.
One final point; I thought it was pretty insensitive of Tim Cocker of BT Sport to spend most of Thomas's MOTM interview by going on about how good Jack is, Jack's England chances and how good a coach Lee Blackett is.
-
Going back to Naiyaravoro, not sure it was deliberate, but it was certainly reckless and contact was with the head. Will be surprised if it's not cited and leads to a ban.
-
Very happy with that performance. Any concerns over whether Shields can play 8 have been answered with a definite yes. Willis and Young exceptional. Pack fronted up and defence didn't give much away all day. Backs didn't do a great deal in attack but took their chances.
Dobby had some iffy moments at 9 and I felt Brookes was poor in the loose before his injury. Given how JTA has improved his scrummaging, I am not sure Brookes would make the first choice 23 when the need to rest players has stopped. Lima's yellow was poor. If he actually went to catch the ball rather than to knock it down I think he'd have been in for a try.
Didn't agree with some of Karl Dickson's decisions in the second half, but proud of how we dug in when momentum was slipping away.
Pick of the bunch was the final try. It would have been exceptional in the dry but given the weather was simply devine.
One final point; I thought it was pretty insensitive of Tim Cocker of BT Sport to spend most of Thomas's MOTM interview by going on about how good Jack is, Jack's England chances and how good a coach Lee Blackett is.
Agree. Stupid to insinuate that it's all turned round since Dai went. Even if it's true there was no need for that particular line of discussion with his son.
-
Good early report -
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/aug/16/rugby-union-premiership-wasps-northampton-jack-willis-england-eddie-jones
-
Here's another from The Telegraph.
Wasps secure bonus-point victory over Northampton after back row masterclass
Jack Willis and Thomas Young took advantage of the law interpretations at the breakdown, causing havoc throughout the match
Eddie Jones started the weekend on Friday night by witnessing a standout performance from Harlequins’ Chris Robshaw, a familiar face of England’s past. On Sunday, the England head coach departed Franklin’s Gardens having seen a glimpse of its future in the shape of Wasps’ back-row tearaway Jack Willis.
Wasps’ bonus-point win allows them to leapfrog Northampton into the top four, a remarkable transformation since head coach Lee Blackett took the reins from Dai Young when the club were tenth. It was a victory based squarely on their domination of the breakdown where Wasps twin opensides Willis and Thomas Young, the broadcasters’ man of the match, ran riot. Despite boasting nearly two thirds possession and territory, Northampton ended up conceding 17 turnovers; their all England capped back row of Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam and Teimana Harrison were comprehensively bested.
Willis is not exactly a new kid on the block. The 23-year-old was due to tour South Africa in 2018 before rupturing his ACL in his right knee. In his absence, Tom Curry started all three Tests and cemented himself as a world-class talent as Willis spent 16 months on the sidelines.
He was just finding his form again before the coronavirus pandemic struck. If anything his effectiveness has been amplified by the law interpretations at the breakdown. Once over the ball, Willis is impossible to shift and with an engine that could power a tank that means he seems to be contesting every other breakdown. He also popped up with a try with Josh Bassett (twice) and Ben Harris also crossing. Even if Curry – or Sam Underhill for that matter – are not going anywhere any time soon, Willis is placing himself in that selection equation.
“Jack is proving himself at this moment, he is working hard and he won’t die wondering in his career, that’s for sure,” Blackett said. “I think England’s back row is as strong as it’s ever been, but Jack will be there or thereabouts. If he keeps playing well and working hard, I’m pretty sure he’ll get a call up.”
Northampton fly half Dan Biggar kicked a pair of first-half penalties but was also responsible for the set piece for the first Wasps try after kicking past the deadball line. Wasps’ execution was flawless. Jimmy Gopperth delayed his pass to Jacob Umaga who flipped on while absorbing the contact allowing Bassett a straightforward finish. “We practiced defending that move 100 times,” Chris Boyd, the Northampton director of rugby, said. “We quietly got it wrong on the day. You can’t afford to leak soft tries.” Boyd’s frustration only mounted as Wasps’ second score also came from a scrum on 18 minutes. It was executed in a similar clinical manner as full back Matteo Minozzi was brought up just short and that man Willis was present to snipe from close range for his fourth try in his last six appearances.
Northampton manoeuvred themselves into promising positions, particularly with their work at the restarts but a combination of poor handling and Wasps’ stout defence prevented them from capitalising. Centre Malakai Fekitoa acted as the tone-setter. Twice he rattled the bones of opposite number Fraser Dingwall, although the second time it drew a yellow card from referee Karl Dickson as his shoulder rode up into his chin. Saints failed to capitalise on their man advantage.
After the break, Northampton took a leaf from Wasps’ playbook by using the scrum as a try-scoring platform. It was hardly a subtle ploy, using 19 stone Taqele Naiyaravoro on the crash before scrum half Alex Mitchell dived over. Wasps responded with Harris’ pushover try and extended their advantage to 24-13 as replacement Lima Sopoaga kicked a penalty.
Sopogoa, though, was rightly sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on which prevented a certain try. Northampton immediately capitalised as second David Ribbans scored from a driving maul and a Biggar penalty cut Wasps’ lead to three points. However Sopoaga scored his second penalty before Wasps scored a glorious fourth try to seal their fourth win a row. Young seized on a loose kick and in an instant Sopoaga and the excellent Dan Robson had flown down the lefthand touchline for Bassett to score his second.
“I did not see that coming,” Boyd said. “We put ourselves under pressure in training a lot but I think that was the preseason game we needed.”
-
This is crying out for a caption ;D Click to enlarge.
-
Great win and a joy to watch after the 5 month rugby drought!
. One final point; I thought it was pretty insensitive of Tim Cocker of BT Sport to spend most of Thomas's MOTM interview by going on about how good Jack is, Jack's England chances and how good a coach Lee Blackett is.
I noticed that too and felt it was highly unfair and unprofessional of Tim. Perhaps he was expecting Jack to get the award but nonetheless there were plenty of other comments & questions he should of posed to YY. Poor form. You can see YY was not best pleased ... and rightly so.
-
"Sopogoa, though, was rightly sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on which prevented a certain try." [my emphasis.
When I first read that I thought "Really? I don't remember any discussion of a possible try" so I've just been back and had a look.
The possibility of a try wasn't raised by the commentators and the Saint's players didn't even consider it. BT didn't show any angles that we could use to make a judgement but given the Saint's players didn't raise it we have to ask which match he was watching.
-
Going back to Naiyaravoro, not sure it was deliberate, but it was certainly reckless and contact was with the head. Will be surprised if it's not cited and leads to a ban.
Agreed - not sure it was deliberate, or malicious but he definitely wasn't trying to find grass to pump his legs during the tackle.
At best, he's trying to shake off a tackler. At worst, he's trying to kick someone.
-
ps Anyone else impressed with Lima's ability to self-manage his own game time?! :)
Apparently he felt 20 odd minutes wouldn't have kept him fresh for Friday night under the lights!
-
Northampton fly half Dan Biggar kicked a pair of first-half penalties but was also responsible for the set piece for the first Wasps try after kicking past the deadball line. Wasps’ execution was flawless. Jimmy Gopperth delayed his pass to Jacob Umaga who flipped on while absorbing the contact allowing Bassett a straightforward finish. “We practiced defending that move 100 times,” Chris Boyd, the Northampton director of rugby, said. “We quietly got it wrong on the day. You can’t afford to leak soft tries.”[/i]
If that's the case then why was the person meant to be man marking Josh at least 10 metres closer to the touchline then him, with the scrum obscuring his vision of Josh?
-
If that's the case then why was the person meant to be man marking Josh at least 10 metres closer to the touchline then him, with the scrum obscuring his vision of Josh?
In that position on the pitch its not about man marking, if Bassett's opposite number moves across to follow he leaves a very tasty looking blind side for Shields & Robson to exploit instead.