Always a Wasp
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46
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Wasps Poppy
« on: November 04, 2021, 02:33:41 PM »
Ideal purchase for any Wasps fan who wants to mark Remembrance Sunday OR those still moaning about the new logo!!!
https://www.poppyshop.org.uk/products/wasps-poppy-rugby-pin-2021
Who's going to tell the Royal British Legion that their artwork is out of date?
https://www.poppyshop.org.uk/products/wasps-poppy-rugby-pin-2021
Who's going to tell the Royal British Legion that their artwork is out of date?
47
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Barnes again
« on: November 04, 2021, 02:27:24 PM »
If any Premiership teams are not using their analysis coaches to look at the style of referees they're insane. Yes, we all want to see consistency in how the laws are applied from week to week but Referees are human, there will be some laws they're really hot on and others that that they virtually ignore. Successful teams will train prior to a match with full knowledge of what they weekends referee is likely to pick up and what you can get away with. It's not perfect but until they invent a robot rugby referee that's how it's going to be.
Wayne Barnes gets a lot more right than he misses. I particularly like the way he manages scrums, any front row going into a match looking to win the game by forcing penalty after penalty at scrums is likely to be disappointed. Barnes is likely to address any technical issues at a scrum early doors, he understands the principal that a scrum is a restart so as soon as possession is won he'll call "Use it" rather than waiting for the inevitable collapse and awarding a penalty. Of course he'll miss a few things, they all do, but I enjoy watching games he's in charge of more than pretty much any other referee irrespective of whether Wasps are involved.
Wayne Barnes gets a lot more right than he misses. I particularly like the way he manages scrums, any front row going into a match looking to win the game by forcing penalty after penalty at scrums is likely to be disappointed. Barnes is likely to address any technical issues at a scrum early doors, he understands the principal that a scrum is a restart so as soon as possession is won he'll call "Use it" rather than waiting for the inevitable collapse and awarding a penalty. Of course he'll miss a few things, they all do, but I enjoy watching games he's in charge of more than pretty much any other referee irrespective of whether Wasps are involved.
48
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Bath Kit Man Sent Off - we aren't the only ones!
« on: November 02, 2021, 06:47:33 PM »
Incredible. That was one of the most clear cut red cards you’ll see this season. When there’s sufficient impact with the head of an opponent to actually knock him out you accept you or a player on your team has messed up. You show a little remorse and above all check that the “victim” is ok. Anthony Watson’s comments and their kit manager are pathetic, you can’t defend the indefensible
49
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Match thread Bath v Wasps
« on: November 01, 2021, 01:49:02 PM »
Can't help wondering if Stuart Hooper is living on borrowed time. Yes they're trying to manage an injury crisis at a similar level to ours but they've been under-performing for years. I've always looked at their squad and thought that with the personnel they've got they should be challenging for top four year after year but they rarely offer any sustained consistency. Hooper is a thoroughly decent guy, I wish him no ill and obviously he's a Bath man through and through but particularly now that they have a new CEO I think the pressure on him to get some decent results is going to be massive.
50
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Tenant Troubles
« on: October 26, 2021, 01:49:53 PM »
I have a friend who was an ex-Met Police officer. He was a big rugby fan and took a colleague to an England match at Twickenham. His colleague was a soccer fan and had worked at soccer matches dealing with the seemingly inevitable violence and intimidation. Apparently he was terrified at the lack of segregation between supporters heading to HQ and in the ground and kept asking where the "rest" of the Police were seeing only a couple of coppers directing traffic and on horseback. He found it almost impossible to grasp that you could put 80,000 people together without any hint of trouble.
This is why we love rugby! I feel like an old fart constantly going on about rugby's ethos and values, desperately resisting any changes that might make the game head in the same direction as soccer. The day that I can't chat to opposition supporters and share a beer win or lose is the day I stop going to matches.
This is why we love rugby! I feel like an old fart constantly going on about rugby's ethos and values, desperately resisting any changes that might make the game head in the same direction as soccer. The day that I can't chat to opposition supporters and share a beer win or lose is the day I stop going to matches.
51
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Pete Atkinson & Scott Barrow up before the beak
« on: October 20, 2021, 11:00:27 AM »To me it is all about cause and effect. This was a passionate game, in live play when the ball goes out it is still live until touched by a non playing person. Of course we know a carry back is a 5 metre attacking scrum, but in the heat of the moment and when you are in the ascendancy emotions run high. Our coach had no place to get involved, and the repercussions of his actions led to the outcome. We are right to mention Hills actions should have bourne more scrutiny, however Barrow is not only the instigator but completely at fault for what happens as without his input the following would never of occurred.I agree up to a point, both Atkinson and Barrow deserve punishment and yes, they absolutely should apologise but that doesn't excuse players from retaliating. Do that following foul play on the pitch and a penalty will be reversed. Slade's little push you could just deal with by having a word, Hill however was guilty of assault. It it was off the field of play and against someone not involved in the match so you could argue that the referee doesn't have any jurisdiction, it's a matter for the stadium stewards and/or the Police. I'm not suggesting for a second that the club should make a complaint and get him arrested but as a Professional player and and England international it sets an appalling example so I'm amazed that the RFU have done precisely sod all.
I have no sympathy for Barrow, and certainly none for Atkinson, both are representatives of our club, and I hope they apologise and show contrition as both were in the wrong.
52
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Broadstreet
« on: October 18, 2021, 01:56:39 PM »
Am I the only one somewhat bemused by the complaints from some players about the facilities at Broadstreet when it wasn't long ago the club was sharing the FC grounds at Acton- hardly the most luxurious training ground! Think about all the success that we had as a club when based there. Some players actually boasted about how the winning mentality was built from the bonding experience as a club training out of a glorified shed!!
53
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Oghre cited
« on: October 13, 2021, 01:24:30 PM »
Am I the only person who is a little surprised that the report glosses over the fact that a Premiership referee, an experienced one at that, taking charge of his 100th match- took a close look at the video footage, considered what had taken place and made a decision to award a yellow card. I'm amazed that Maxwell Keys wasn't consulted, this report is firmly stating that he got it wrong. Not a spur of the moment decision, he took his time, reviewed the incident and then apparently made the wrong decision. That's pretty damming for a referee that the RFU saw fit to appoint to the Premiership final the year before last!
I know that many on here accuse him of making the wrong decisions on many occasions when he's been in charge of our matches but I thought he was the RFU golden boy.
I know that many on here accuse him of making the wrong decisions on many occasions when he's been in charge of our matches but I thought he was the RFU golden boy.
54
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Gopperth Defended
« on: October 08, 2021, 01:45:51 PM »There is a need to clamp down on dissent or else like other problems on the itch, it will only get worse.Completely agree. With Erasmus spending an hour making a video to criticise the officials during the Lions series and now Richards comments which let's not forget, implied the referee being biased against Newcastle;- "It was the same official who did the Wasps game last season and missed the Josh Bassett incident, so he wasn't going to miss anything this week, so we were expecting a little bit of something". Both escaped any meaningful sanction which is hardly going to act as a deterrent. Nobody wants to see rugby head down the same path that has blighted soccer so this sort of behaviour should be slammed with heavy punishment. Coaches should be setting a good example. End of.
The games where on pitch chat has quickly meant 10m back has put a stop to it just like refs penalising breakdown infringements. That area is my bugbear, and as one of the commentary team last week at the Sale-Exeter game said "warning players does nothing to get the Laws complied with. You could see that in that game. Players were flopping over the ball too often, going in from the side, hands in ruck etc. Again, early intervention will probably minimise offences.
But if coaches appear to get away with saying what they like - it's no wonder that players think they can too......
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: TRP
« on: October 04, 2021, 01:26:43 PM »Deano mouths off. Could see him in hot water.Fast loosing respect for Deano. Ridiculous comment. If you appointed referees to matches based on any controversial decisions they'd made in previous matches for any given team you'd never have enough referees! Mind you, it'd mean we wouldn't get Maxwell Keys again which wouldn't be a bad thing....
https://amp.rugbypass.com/news/tom-is-distraught-richards-furious-at-rfu-over-ref-appointment/
The referee was completely blameless in the missed gouge on Josh last season, he was following play, that's his job, it was the imbecile of a TMO who missed or more correctly ignored the gouge that was a clear as day to everyone who saw it on the TV replays, including the disciplinary panel who handed out the (far too short) ban.
56
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Referee Consistently- discuss
« on: September 28, 2021, 02:01:03 PM »Thanks Nigel,No specific Law but the 9 shouldn't make any contact with any of the players involved in the scrum and vice versa. When I was refereeing I had several matches where the scrum half and one or other flanker were having their own personal battle at scrums. I would stop the match and tell both of them that if I saw any contact whatsoever I'd award a penalty, put a stop to it instantly. You have to be very sharp to make sure that the scrum is definitely over when a 9 tackles the 8 or goes for the ball. As long as the 8 has disengaged or picked up the ball he's fair game.
Was there not though a rule a few years ago that stopped the 9 standing between the flanker & the 8?
Was nice to see Morris stopping Uren doing it when he came on by entangling his legs with Urens "accidentally". Hopefully Ohgre will pick up on that a learning point.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Referee Consistently- discuss
« on: September 27, 2021, 01:32:54 PM »In the Wasps game there was a lot of time both scrum halves interfered with play at the base of the scrum. Has there been a rule change I was unaware of that allows the scrum half to stand where both Uren & Robson were? I thought you couldn't stand between the flanker & the 8?The Scrum Half can stand where he likes as long as he's behind the ball. If he goes beyond the ball he's offside.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Lions thread
« on: July 25, 2021, 04:33:37 PM »Itoje was very effective.Have to agree. In spite of impressing playing back in his best position when selected for the warm up matches, he was dreadful yesterday and I suspect played himself out of a start next Saturday. He gave away two pens that cost the Lions 6 points, missed every high ball that came his way (nothing new there, precisely why he should never play at 15), and the one skill that is what usually secures his selection- the long range kicks- deserted him as he missed the one penalty he took.
Most were not in the first half but recovered.
I cashed in my bet for the Lions to win after 30 mins and lost £7.
Daly was pants.
Just to prove that this is not anti-Sarries bias, I thought Itoje was immense and his MotM award was justified, I think he just shaded Lawes. Even Farrell played well, his composure taking that final penalty was impressive.
59
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: New logo
« on: July 19, 2021, 01:47:19 PM »
I get that it's occasionally necessary to "refresh" your brand these days, we are a business after all and I totally applaud unifying the Mens, Women's, Netball and even the FC logos.
Some of us on here will remember the ghastly options that were put forward for the last rebranding exercise before they settled on the last logo which was pretty much the traditional logo with a rugby ball behind it. The new logo is a bit juvenile but could have been far worse, we'll get used to it.
I should add that not liking the new logo has nothing to do with the fact that my tattoo is now out of date....
Some of us on here will remember the ghastly options that were put forward for the last rebranding exercise before they settled on the last logo which was pretty much the traditional logo with a rugby ball behind it. The new logo is a bit juvenile but could have been far worse, we'll get used to it.
I should add that not liking the new logo has nothing to do with the fact that my tattoo is now out of date....
60
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: World Rugby reforms seek to save rugby from oblivion
« on: July 14, 2021, 02:42:59 PM »QuoteCreating space on the field and fatigue in the players are seen as key tools to drive down the force and number of collisions.
Creating fatigue is a fast way to get mistimed, and potentially dangerous, tackles.
That aside, as we know the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The problem here isn't the intention of the new laws its the unintended consequences from their application in the real world. Coaches will already be looking at footage from games where these laws were trialled and thinking about how to exploit them.
This also concerns me. There was a red card in one of the Six Nations U20 matches. Under the present protocol it was entirely correct, a tackler went too high and there was head contact. however, the tackler was stationary, the ball carrier ran into him and initiated the head contact. I hate to be cynical but with a team who have systematically cheated for years due to be back in the Premiership it's hard not to be, do you think we'll see coaches encouraging ball carriers to go into contact with their head aimed at their opposite number with a view to picking up a few red cards against the opposition? Dangerous obviously but that's never stopped coaches who are obsessed with winning at all costs.