Always a Wasp
Show Posts
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
121
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: And So On To Worcester at Home
« on: April 04, 2019, 08:27:33 AM »
Yeah Miller must be included in the 23. He's done a stirling job for us this season so that must be rewarded. However, I would have him as primarily Wing/Fullback replacement with Umaga also on the bench. Depending on how the game is going Dai can then decide to bring on a safe and steady Miller to kick the points (his accuracy % must be through the roof!) or if we need a game changer then perhaps Umaga can offer that.
I'm getting really excited about saturday! Such a big game but after the positive results in the A League, I seem to have some new found enthusiasm. I don't think we can under estimate the players returning from injury, I think we could be in for a strong finish to the season.
I'm getting really excited about saturday! Such a big game but after the positive results in the A League, I seem to have some new found enthusiasm. I don't think we can under estimate the players returning from injury, I think we could be in for a strong finish to the season.
122
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: And So On To Worcester at Home
« on: April 03, 2019, 04:07:16 PM »
I agree with a few on here... Sops to start and Umaga on the bench.
As Nick has said, win this and then we have the opportunity to blood Umaga and Sirker with confidence relegation isn't as big a risk.
I still wouldn't play Daly.... but he'll probably go and score a hattrick now!
As Nick has said, win this and then we have the opportunity to blood Umaga and Sirker with confidence relegation isn't as big a risk.
I still wouldn't play Daly.... but he'll probably go and score a hattrick now!
123
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Sops leaving?
« on: April 03, 2019, 10:40:54 AM »
Blimey! This isn't news I was expecting to read today.
I'd be suprised if this was true as a recent interview with him suggested how was loving living in Europe as it gave him the opportunity to travel and was looking forward to next season after experiencing an 'adjustment period' to the GP game and it's physicality.
If he were to leave then I would want and expect Dai to replace him with a genuine starter. I know Billy hasn't let us down this season but the bar has been pretty low. I think he's a good player and a great back-up but I don't think he's the 10 to lead us to any silverware. Umaga looks class when ever i've seen him play. However, I still thinks he needs to be eased in and not just thrown in as starting 10.
Would be gutted if Sops does decide to move on, but fully expect Dai and Derek to replace him with a big name 10.
I'd be suprised if this was true as a recent interview with him suggested how was loving living in Europe as it gave him the opportunity to travel and was looking forward to next season after experiencing an 'adjustment period' to the GP game and it's physicality.
If he were to leave then I would want and expect Dai to replace him with a genuine starter. I know Billy hasn't let us down this season but the bar has been pretty low. I think he's a good player and a great back-up but I don't think he's the 10 to lead us to any silverware. Umaga looks class when ever i've seen him play. However, I still thinks he needs to be eased in and not just thrown in as starting 10.
Would be gutted if Sops does decide to move on, but fully expect Dai and Derek to replace him with a big name 10.
124
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Antonio TJ Harris is off
« on: April 02, 2019, 03:41:16 PM »
You may be right there Paul.
Here's hoping Reider doesn't have too many suitors as I would love to keep hold of him. Definitely been one of the championship player success stories in recent seasons.
I can't see us allowing both Myall and Garratt to leave this summer as we haven't signed a second row to my knowledge and don't have a ready made replacement from the academy that can play chunks of next season in the GP (perhaps just too soon for Cardall to step up to 10-15 GP appearances next season).
Here's hoping Reider doesn't have too many suitors as I would love to keep hold of him. Definitely been one of the championship player success stories in recent seasons.
I can't see us allowing both Myall and Garratt to leave this summer as we haven't signed a second row to my knowledge and don't have a ready made replacement from the academy that can play chunks of next season in the GP (perhaps just too soon for Cardall to step up to 10-15 GP appearances next season).
125
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Antonio TJ Harris is off
« on: April 02, 2019, 02:23:39 PM »
As blunt as this may sound... I can't see many clubs lining up to sign a player that's been out for 13 months.
Wasps will have all the knowledge from his rehab and will likely be in a strong position to retain his services due to loyalty (similar to Ashley's thoughts on a new contrct). So I fully expect us to announce Reider has re-signed... which I will be very, VERY happy with!
Wasps will have all the knowledge from his rehab and will likely be in a strong position to retain his services due to loyalty (similar to Ashley's thoughts on a new contrct). So I fully expect us to announce Reider has re-signed... which I will be very, VERY happy with!
126
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Antonio TJ Harris is off
« on: April 02, 2019, 12:51:56 PM »
Just gone back to Bobby's article and checked. The players he identifies...
Watson - Re-signed
Garratt - **UNKNOWN
Gaby - **UNKNOWN
Myall - **UNKNOWN
Miller - Re-signed
Reader - Re-signed (unless i've imagined that)
Hampson - **UNKNOWN
TJ - Departing
West - **UNKNOWN
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/wasps-rugby-news-contracts-rumours-16000654
So 5 still yet to be confirmed... Question is have we offered contracts or not? If so, perhaps it's coming down to whether the players have managed to find something better at another club yet and are holding off signing? The only 2 I'd be keen to retain at Myall and West.
Watson - Re-signed
Garratt - **UNKNOWN
Gaby - **UNKNOWN
Myall - **UNKNOWN
Miller - Re-signed
Reader - Re-signed (unless i've imagined that)
Hampson - **UNKNOWN
TJ - Departing
West - **UNKNOWN
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/wasps-rugby-news-contracts-rumours-16000654
So 5 still yet to be confirmed... Question is have we offered contracts or not? If so, perhaps it's coming down to whether the players have managed to find something better at another club yet and are holding off signing? The only 2 I'd be keen to retain at Myall and West.
127
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Wow the A Team
« on: April 02, 2019, 11:39:55 AM »
Thanks for the links chaps. Good to see the highlights after reading the match report a few times just out of pure excitement!
It did look like a weak leicester side but we played some nice patterns and showed the flowing rugby we produced the previous to seasons in the premiership.
Was interesting to see Matthews stood as first receiver at points and varying his passes to either cut backs or the short runner. We need to have our forwards doing more of this just to vary up the points of attack and keep oppositions guessing.
It did look like a weak leicester side but we played some nice patterns and showed the flowing rugby we produced the previous to seasons in the premiership.
Was interesting to see Matthews stood as first receiver at points and varying his passes to either cut backs or the short runner. We need to have our forwards doing more of this just to vary up the points of attack and keep oppositions guessing.
128
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Antonio TJ Harris is off
« on: April 02, 2019, 10:07:22 AM »
Shame to see him go as he seemed a nice lad whenever he was doing the 'Wasps Ambassador' role on match day, plus he looks decent on the pitch. But as BG has said, we are pretty well stocked in the Hooker department. I know the focus in on Barberry currently but I also read lots of good stuff on Oghre who should be getting promoted into the Snr squad next season. So sensible business decision from Dai to allow TJ to head off for more game time.
Who is left to confirm as re-signed or departing, just Gaby? Last season we announced them all in one go, but perhaps with the media hype on our departing players and the suggestion there's an exodus, maybe it makes better PR sense to drip feed that news.
Who is left to confirm as re-signed or departing, just Gaby? Last season we announced them all in one go, but perhaps with the media hype on our departing players and the suggestion there's an exodus, maybe it makes better PR sense to drip feed that news.
129
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Dai's 'Mistake' with the Premiership Cup Matches
« on: April 01, 2019, 02:53:33 PM »
I understand what Dai is saying but think he's being overly self critical. Our injuries this season have decimated the squad and forced us to field weakened sides in the GP. So it could easily be flipped on its head and if he were to field more senior players and they pick up injuries, we could have found ourselves a lot closer to relegation than we find ourselves now.
Perhaps with a better balancing of the salary cap, plus more academy prospects coming through, we will have a bigger squad to select from for this competition next season and strike a better balance of youngsters/1st team players.
Perhaps with a better balancing of the salary cap, plus more academy prospects coming through, we will have a bigger squad to select from for this competition next season and strike a better balance of youngsters/1st team players.
130
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: And So On To Worcester at Home
« on: April 01, 2019, 01:27:32 PM »
I think we could all guess what Dai's team will be and perhaps that's not a bad thing as it's perhaps not the game for gambles, given it's significance. However, clearly something has to change to spark new life into us. I wouldn't completely drop the 'out of form stars' as I agree with others stating they bring so much expeirience to the side. The one i would drop though is Daly. I'm a massive fan of his and am still gutted he's off. However, he's simply not offered us anything of note in recent games. So for me, JdJ should start ahead of him.
Its brilliant to have the backrow selection headache that we've not had in months. For this, fitness must play a factor and anyone not at 100% shouldn't be in the 23, not when we have options. I'm a Brad shields fan... I know he's not hit his strides with us yet and people remain unconvinced. However, I think he brings a physicality to the backrow and destructive tackling that we got from Hask in his prime. Plus, he's a leader and has a calm head on him.
I know the A Team game has got everyone excited (myself included!) with not only bringing another W, but showing what our youngsters can do. I was the most excited I'd been all season reading the match report form the Leicest game last weekend! However, i'm not sure this crunch game is the one to blood them in. Win this and then I think we shoukd start introducing them.
With the above reasoning, I would go with....
15 - Willie
14 - Watson
13 - Neal
12 - JdeJ
11 - Bassett
10 - Lima
9 - Simmo
8 - Hughes
7 - YY (not convinced Willis is fit, but would take one of him or YY)
6 - Shields
5 - Gaskell
4 - Launchbury
3 - Jake
2 - Cruse
1 - ZZ
16 - Taylor
17 - Chesty (If fit)
18 - Brookes (If fit, Stuart if not)
19 - Rowlands
20 - Carr (tough call leaving one of Willis or YY out, but i think it will come down to fitness with them)
21 - Porter
22 - Umaga (Not been at the A Team games, but sounds like a Cips style flyhalf so potentially a game charger for us)
23 - Miller
Its brilliant to have the backrow selection headache that we've not had in months. For this, fitness must play a factor and anyone not at 100% shouldn't be in the 23, not when we have options. I'm a Brad shields fan... I know he's not hit his strides with us yet and people remain unconvinced. However, I think he brings a physicality to the backrow and destructive tackling that we got from Hask in his prime. Plus, he's a leader and has a calm head on him.
I know the A Team game has got everyone excited (myself included!) with not only bringing another W, but showing what our youngsters can do. I was the most excited I'd been all season reading the match report form the Leicest game last weekend! However, i'm not sure this crunch game is the one to blood them in. Win this and then I think we shoukd start introducing them.
With the above reasoning, I would go with....
15 - Willie
14 - Watson
13 - Neal
12 - JdeJ
11 - Bassett
10 - Lima
9 - Simmo
8 - Hughes
7 - YY (not convinced Willis is fit, but would take one of him or YY)
6 - Shields
5 - Gaskell
4 - Launchbury
3 - Jake
2 - Cruse
1 - ZZ
16 - Taylor
17 - Chesty (If fit)
18 - Brookes (If fit, Stuart if not)
19 - Rowlands
20 - Carr (tough call leaving one of Willis or YY out, but i think it will come down to fitness with them)
21 - Porter
22 - Umaga (Not been at the A Team games, but sounds like a Cips style flyhalf so potentially a game charger for us)
23 - Miller
131
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: 12:30 Player Re-Signing news
« on: March 28, 2019, 01:27:40 PM »
Very happy with this re-signing. He's certaily taken his chances and scored some nice tries in a team struggling in attack. So for that, he deserves to be given more chances next season.
132
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Alfie Barbeary from RugbyPass
« on: March 26, 2019, 03:29:25 PM »
Its a really well written article isn't it. I posted it on DW before i discovered this forum.
I want to believe that the relocation is complete and we're settled, so can now focus on the academy more than we have been able to the past few seasons.
I am a huge fan of Dai (which has perhaps been evident in my recent posts on DW). However, I'm also very aware that our progression of youngsters has only really been a success when his hand has been forced due to injuries. I therefore really hope that the reality check of this season has turned his attentions towards placing more focus on our development path and opportunities given to our homegrown crop.
I know we don't announce contract lengths. However, perhaps one of the biggest & best PR stunts the club could do currently, is annouce 5 year (or just 'long term') contracts for our core group of homegrown youngsters.
Willis J (although i think signed up to a new deal end of last season)
Willis T
Oghre
Sirker
Porter
Umaga
etc.
Sale did it a few seaosns back and i was really impressed with it and got the impression they had a vision for the future. PLUS it locks in these guys so we don't have another summer of losing large chunks of homegrown talent.
I want to believe that the relocation is complete and we're settled, so can now focus on the academy more than we have been able to the past few seasons.
I am a huge fan of Dai (which has perhaps been evident in my recent posts on DW). However, I'm also very aware that our progression of youngsters has only really been a success when his hand has been forced due to injuries. I therefore really hope that the reality check of this season has turned his attentions towards placing more focus on our development path and opportunities given to our homegrown crop.
I know we don't announce contract lengths. However, perhaps one of the biggest & best PR stunts the club could do currently, is annouce 5 year (or just 'long term') contracts for our core group of homegrown youngsters.
Willis J (although i think signed up to a new deal end of last season)
Willis T
Oghre
Sirker
Porter
Umaga
etc.
Sale did it a few seaosns back and i was really impressed with it and got the impression they had a vision for the future. PLUS it locks in these guys so we don't have another summer of losing large chunks of homegrown talent.