Always a Wasp
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16
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Jersey Reds gone
« on: September 28, 2023, 11:07:39 AM »
Potential investors not willing to commit due to a lack of information regarding the 2nd tier restructuring and funding is exactly why Wasps couldn't continue.
All anyone knows is that there's an idea to have a Prem 2 with a new Professional Game Agreement due in 2024, which is only months away. However nobody, especially the clubs involved, have any clue what that means. How can they create business plans on that basis.
The RFU executive and Premiership Rugby (i.e. Sweeney and Massie-Taylor) are culpable yet again. They appear clueless!
All anyone knows is that there's an idea to have a Prem 2 with a new Professional Game Agreement due in 2024, which is only months away. However nobody, especially the clubs involved, have any clue what that means. How can they create business plans on that basis.
The RFU executive and Premiership Rugby (i.e. Sweeney and Massie-Taylor) are culpable yet again. They appear clueless!
17
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: The Future
« on: September 21, 2023, 10:05:04 AM »Is it possible for 2 clubs to play at the same ground in the same competition? Could be that both Wasps and WW play at sixways in Prem 2. The pitch would take a beating
Thought the pitch was artificial? So not a problem. Guess it would come down to attendances/ economics if risking paying 2 lots of salaries or one
Surely it would be possible to have a single organisational entity to run the ground and general admin while having 2 separate playing teams with specific admin, allowing some cost and revenue sharing.
In that scenario CH could sell off the Warriors team interest initially, to increase funding. If he wants to build a new ground and independent identity for Wasps later he's then in a position to sell the interest in the ground to the Warriors owner.
I thought that was roughly his plan previously, which is why he made the loan to Atlas.
18
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Excellent rugby insight by Lol
« on: September 15, 2023, 12:10:22 PM »
I came across this full fat interview of Lawrence Dallaglio by Simon Jordan which I found very insightful.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tqW-U-epKL8
Lol talks about everything from his early years to what's going on with England now.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tqW-U-epKL8
Lol talks about everything from his early years to what's going on with England now.
19
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: On more pleasant matters. Rugby WC Fra v NZ
« on: September 11, 2023, 10:29:06 AM »At least OF will be back soon to make sure we stick to the game plan no matter what happens.
If the planning is to kick lots of drop goals, maybe not. Ford scored more DGs in that game than OF has in his whole 100+ cap England career.
20
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Summer Internationals
« on: August 28, 2023, 12:14:51 PM »
I think England have a very real chance of being in the RWC final.
Not the England team though. They will be lucky to make it out of their group. I'm talking about Luke Pearce refereeing the final! He was excellent in the France v Australia match. Very clear communion in 2 languages and a good feel for the game. Possibly the best current referee in the world.
Given the almost certain inevitability of the England team not making the final it may be Luke's position to grab instead.
Not the England team though. They will be lucky to make it out of their group. I'm talking about Luke Pearce refereeing the final! He was excellent in the France v Australia match. Very clear communion in 2 languages and a good feel for the game. Possibly the best current referee in the world.
Given the almost certain inevitability of the England team not making the final it may be Luke's position to grab instead.
21
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Summer Internationals
« on: August 27, 2023, 10:29:33 AM »
If anyone wants an antidote to boring rugby I suggest you watch the Italy v Japan game. It was highly competitive, until Italy scored a couple of late tries, and featured running rugby and a high degree of skill. Full on tackling but no reviews necessary.
There was an amazing deception try from a lineout by Japan. Very innovative and far removed from the usual catch and drive. Italy's quick passing and running lines were a joy to watch. The commentary by Claire Thomas and Emily Scarratt was very refreshing too.
Wingers Ione (try hat-trick) and Cauozzo (MotM) were great and Paulo Odogwu played the last 20 minutes.
There was an amazing deception try from a lineout by Japan. Very innovative and far removed from the usual catch and drive. Italy's quick passing and running lines were a joy to watch. The commentary by Claire Thomas and Emily Scarratt was very refreshing too.
Wingers Ione (try hat-trick) and Cauozzo (MotM) were great and Paulo Odogwu played the last 20 minutes.
22
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Robert Shaw - Actor
« on: August 11, 2023, 12:13:27 PM »
I was reading about Robert Shaw, who played Captain Quint in Jaws. Apparently he was a good rugby player and played for Wasps at some point. This must have been late 40s early 50s (same time as my dad).
I can't find any reference to him in Wasps history and my dad never mentioned him. Shaw would have been 18 at the end of the war and had achieved national recognition as an actor by 1956.
Interestingly, he was lead actor in a TV series called the Buccaneers in the 50s, an episode of which was called 'The Wasp', and he played the Irish mob boss in 'The Sting'.
Does anyone have any more information?
I can't find any reference to him in Wasps history and my dad never mentioned him. Shaw would have been 18 at the end of the war and had achieved national recognition as an actor by 1956.
Interestingly, he was lead actor in a TV series called the Buccaneers in the 50s, an episode of which was called 'The Wasp', and he played the Irish mob boss in 'The Sting'.
Does anyone have any more information?
23
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Top 14 Final
« on: June 21, 2023, 02:56:06 PM »
From watching the game it was obvious there was dialogue between TMO and ref throughout. What was different was the TMO wasn't jumping in all the time, particularly asking to forensically disect the most minor of incidents. I'm sure if anything contentious that could have had a major impact occurred a review would have been called.
There is a balance required between letting the game flow with the possibility of the odd minor error of no consequence as opposed to trying to get everything 100% correct by the officials.
Another reason I think helped the game flow was the skill levels of the players involved and their desire to play rugby.
There is a balance required between letting the game flow with the possibility of the odd minor error of no consequence as opposed to trying to get everything 100% correct by the officials.
Another reason I think helped the game flow was the skill levels of the players involved and their desire to play rugby.
24
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Top 14 Final
« on: June 20, 2023, 10:26:18 AM »
The final was a great game of rugby. Huge intensity, plenty of drama, superb skill levels, massive defence, not much kick tennis, no scrums until 25 minutes in and well refereed, with no TMO referrals or cards.
Ntmack didn't play that well but his moment of magic at the end won the game. Jack was immense throughout and Thibaud Flament made a huge difference when he came on.
Best bit for me was when Toulouse were celebrating, seeing Jack and Thibaud embracing and having a chat together. I was so proud thinking those 2 are both graduates of the Wasps academy.
Ntmack didn't play that well but his moment of magic at the end won the game. Jack was immense throughout and Thibaud Flament made a huge difference when he came on.
Best bit for me was when Toulouse were celebrating, seeing Jack and Thibaud embracing and having a chat together. I was so proud thinking those 2 are both graduates of the Wasps academy.
25
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: From the bottom we go!
« on: May 22, 2023, 12:17:51 PM »It's very apparent we are going to start at the bottom of the league structure.No it isn't!
All we know is that Wasps cannot start again as a professional team in the Championship so, if they want to continue with their plans of a new team, it would mean starting at the bottom of the pyramid.
If the Legends' goal is to get Wasps back in the Prem as quickly possible and build a stadium for it in a few years time then there is a much better way.
The Legends comprise several former Wasps 1st team players who played at Sudbury. They were therefore part of the Wasps FC club that still exists at Level 8. So they could offer to finance that club in Acton and help their 1st team climb the leagues. However, they need to guarantee to keep the ethos of the whole club intact. That could be by adding another team layer so those who still want to play at their current level can still do so.
Over the time period it will take to climb the leagues and become a fully professional team they can also run the M40 corridor stadium project so that the professional arm can play there while the lower teams carry on much in the same way they do now in Acton.
That plan would create a Wasps team and club that longstanding supporters could still be jnvested in and not just the name of a Midlands outfit with no connections to the Wasps club other than that. If they want to bring their real fan base with them that is the only option. I would support that.
26
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: World Rugby proposes belly tackles
« on: March 13, 2023, 12:33:35 PM »Quote
"The clear mounting evidence is that doing nothing is simply not an option," World Rugby's chief executive Alan Gilpin said.I get quite frustrated by the lack of understanding from WR. It's the professional and maybe semi-pro game where there is a huge problem, and this is the shop window of rugby with influence, yet they do nothing about that.
"Specifically in the community game, head-on-head contact is something we need to reduce".
Gilpin did not rule out making a permanent law change to the tackle height in the community game. He also refused to rule out a change of tackle height in the elite game in future.
At my very low level I'd say most people tackle high by trying to grab shoulders. Not that effective and very rarely dangerous. I don't ever recall seeing a dangerous head shot in my level 8 club's 1st team games either.
My other bugbear is it is all concentrated on the tackler height and never mentions the tackled player's contribution to the level of danger. This needs to be brought into the equation to be workable and effective and HAS to be applied to top level rugby.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: England today
« on: March 13, 2023, 12:09:35 PM »If the Lions were being selected today, does anyone think any of the 23 that represented England on Saturday would get a nod? That's a damning indictment.The entire Lions squad would be made up mostly from Ireland plus a fair proportion from Scotland. Hardly anyone from England or Wales would get a look in.
28
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Italia
« on: February 26, 2023, 05:11:00 PM »
France v Scotland was pretty good too.
There have been some cracking games this 6 Nations. Unfortunately none of them have involved England.
There have been some cracking games this 6 Nations. Unfortunately none of them have involved England.
29
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Wasps History Lesson
« on: February 21, 2023, 03:15:43 PM »
The problem Wasps had is Repton Avenue was unsuitable without substantial development and access to the ground almost impossible for the numbers required.
We have consequently been shafted several times by football clubs. Amazingly we managed to win a major cup while training among the dog turds on the public park!
Unfortunately, Derek had a good concept but not the wealth or fortitude to make it sustainable and attracted a good deal of ire from football fans and London based supporters by moving to Coventry, having failed to find a stadium that fitted his vision closer to home.
We have consequently been shafted several times by football clubs. Amazingly we managed to win a major cup while training among the dog turds on the public park!
Unfortunately, Derek had a good concept but not the wealth or fortitude to make it sustainable and attracted a good deal of ire from football fans and London based supporters by moving to Coventry, having failed to find a stadium that fitted his vision closer to home.