Always a Wasp
General Category => Wasps Rugby Discussion => Topic started by: Rossm on September 16, 2022, 12:01:03 PM
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WASPS: 15. Ali Crossdale, 14. Zach Kibirige, 13.Sam Spink, 12. Burger Odendaal, 11. Josh Bassett, 10. Charlie Atkinson, 9. Will Porter; 1. Robin Hislop, 2. Tom Cruse, 3. John Ryan, 4. Joe Launchbury (c), 5. Kiran McDonald, 6. Tom Willis, 7. Jack Willis, 8. Alfie Barbeary
Replacements: 16. Dan Frost, 17. Tom West, 18. Biyi Alo, 19. Tim Cardall, 20. Nizaam Carr, 21. Dan Robson, 22. Ryan Mills, 23. Will Haydon-Wood
Men’s Head Coach Lee Blackett has named his side to take on Bristol Bears at Coventry Building Society Arena in the opening home game of the Gallagher Premiership on Saturday 17 September, kick off 3pm.
Jack Willis is back in the starting line up at 7, and will be joined by his brother Tom and Alfie Barbeary in the back-row.
Captain Joe Launchbury lines up alongside Kiran McDonald in the second row, with Robin Hislop, Tom Cruse and John Ryan forming the front row to complete the pack.
In the backs, Josh Bassett and Zach Kibirige continue on the wings, with Ali Crossdale at full back following an impressive display against Gloucester Rugby last week.
Burger Odendaal and Sam Spink resume the centre partnership, while Will Porter and Charlie Atkinson link up as the half-backs.
Amongst the replacements, new signing Will Haydon-Wood is on the bench at 23.
Tickets are available and start from just £21 for adults and £3 for juniors. Get yours HERE.
Season Members - don’t forget you can bring a friend for free to this game. To redeem, call the Ticket Office on 02476 933 444.
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Surprised he's started with Will Porter. Interesting to see Will Haydon-Wood on the bench. I wonder if he'll get on the pield.
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Porter ahead of Dobby surprises me, after the loss of control last week.
The rest is all pretty much as expected, I think. Good to see West, Cardall, Nemo and WHW all fit to feature.
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Bristol team to face Wasps
15. Charles Piutau (65 apps), 14. Luke Morahan (99 apps), 13. Piers O'Conor (109 apps), 12. Sam Bedlow (48 apps), 11. Jack Bates (22 apps); 10. Callum Sheedy (133 apps), 9. Harry Randall (86 apps); 1. Jake Woolmore (109 apps), 2. Will Capon (60 apps), 3. Kyle Sinckler (33 apps), 4. Joe Joyce (152 apps), 5. Chris Vui (94 apps), 6. Sam Jeffries (55 apps), 7. Jake Heenan (c) (66 apps), 8. Magnus Bradbury (1 apps).
System players: 16. Bryan Byrne (33 apps), 17. Yann Thomas (90 apps), 18. Max Lahiff (41 apps), 19. Ed Holmes (86 apps), 20. Sam Lewis (1 apps), 21. Andy Uren (136 apps), 22. AJ MacGinty (1 apps), 23. Rich Lane (6 apps).
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Surprised he's started with Will Porter. Interesting to see Will Haydon-Wood on the bench. I wonder if he'll get on the pield.
This last word a Saffer reference?
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Didn’t see that coming. Thought Robson was excellent v Glaws. Must be tactical.
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That’s hell of a squad. Apart from Stooke, Shields and Koch I’m not sure it gets any stronger as a 23 man squad. You could argue the 3 missing players aren’t guaranteed a starting spot any more
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Like others surprised at Dan being benched.
Good to see us with a stable centre partnership!
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Surprised he's started with Will Porter. Interesting to see Will Haydon-Wood on the bench. I wonder if he'll get on the pield.
This last word a Saffer reference?
Don't know what happened there. P nowhere near F on the keyboard. :-[
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I think last week was the first time Dan started to play near his potential in ages, to immediately drop him is bizarre. Especially as everything went wrong without him on the field.
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I think last week was the first time Dan started to play near his potential in ages, to immediately drop him is bizarre. Especially as everything went wrong without him on the field.
Well, I thought he was subbed a bit early. Maybe he had a slight knock and hasn't trained much this week.
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maybe the idea is that Dobby comes on and makes sure last week doesn't happen again!
Not blaming Porter, but Dans extra experience might help prevent a melt down. I seem to remember Jimmy being used the same way in a few games last season. IIRC it worked.
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I’m with Ross, potentially a slight niggle for Robson but nothing too serious.
Guess WHW or Atkinson can cover 15 if need be but WHW and Mills on the bench isn’t the best balance to me but maybe Odogwu isn’t quite there yet.
Bench pack looks good to me.
Hoping for a nice open and free flowing game.
Bristol look good but I’ll be disappointed if we lose this one.
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Current odds with Sky bet:
Wasps 4/6 on favourites.
Briz 11/10 against.
Bookies never known for generosity ;)
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For me if West is fit enough get through 80 mins he starts, if he isn’t he shouldn’t be on the bench. What happens if Hislop gets injured in the 1st minute?
Also surprised about Dan. Maybe Lee thinks Porter can take care of a Randall better?
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maybe the idea is that Dobby comes on and makes sure last week doesn't happen again!
Not blaming Porter, but Dans extra experience might help prevent a melt down. I seem to remember Jimmy being used the same way in a few games last season. IIRC it worked.
+ 1 (but I’m still surprised). Very strong Wasps bench.
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Personally, I'd like Alfie to 'take care of' Randall..................just once :)
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For me if West is fit enough get through 80 mins he starts, if he isn’t he shouldn’t be on the bench. What happens if Hislop gets injured in the 1st minute?
Also surprised about Dan. Maybe Lee thinks Porter can take care of a Randall better?
I agree with you about West, really don't understand why he isn't starting, he is fit or he isn't, no point bringing him on if the game has gone. Also Dan on the bench is a big call. Lee needs this win a defeat at home will not go down well.
Not sure why Oghre is not in the 23, not overly impressed with Lee's choices
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For me if West is fit enough get through 80 mins he starts, if he isn’t he shouldn’t be on the bench. What happens if Hislop gets injured in the 1st minute?
Also surprised about Dan. Maybe Lee thinks Porter can take care of a Randall better?
I agree with you about West, really don't understand why he isn't starting, he is fit or he isn't, no point bringing him on if the game has gone. Also Dan on the bench is a big call. Lee needs this win a defeat at home will not go down well.
Not sure why Oghre is not in the 23, not overly impressed with Lee's choices
If West isn’t 100% and it’s just a question of match fitness then to me that’s better any day than EM-M at LH.
Remember with props that the replacements can be replaced so let Hislop run around and do his thing in what will probably be a more open game than scrum focused, then West comes on knowing Hislop can come back on if need be.
Oghre I’m not sure about, Cruse was ok last week, arrows good but Frost gave good impact. Maybe Oghre will get a half on Tuesday instead.
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Burger on playing first game at CBS arena.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1570744310546501634 (https://twitter.com/i/status/1570744310546501634)
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That’s hell of a squad. Apart from Stooke, Shields and Koch I’m not sure it gets any stronger as a 23 man squad. You could argue the 3 missing players aren’t guaranteed a starting spot any more
I think I'd include Harris and/or Martinez in that.
I also think Odogwu should feature, although probably on the wing rather than centre while we're trying to get some consistency at 12/13
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For me if West is fit enough get through 80 mins he starts, if he isn’t he shouldn’t be on the bench. What happens if Hislop gets injured in the 1st minute?
Also surprised about Dan. Maybe Lee thinks Porter can take care of a Randall better?
I agree with you about West, really don't understand why he isn't starting, he is fit or he isn't, no point bringing him on if the game has gone. Also Dan on the bench is a big call. Lee needs this win a defeat at home will not go down well.
Not sure why Oghre is not in the 23, not overly impressed with Lee's choices
Agree in the main, West ought to start and Oghre for me, is in the squad. Dan is a big call. Must be a knock? Perhaps we have a different game plan that looks to expand later on?
But...I'm not for Alfie at 8, Tom was one of the top 8s last season and surely we can't be playing Alfie at 8 to help England? Backline beyond 9 is pretty much the expected, strong bench perhaps that's the plan? Keen to see Mills get game time as he is class and time on the pitch will help regain that edge.
Need the win for many reasons, but need more to look like we're all on the same page all game.
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Maybe they are trying to give Porter more responsibility, and saving Dan a bit.
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I'm with those who think having Dan on the bench is to prevent the melt down that happened last week.
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Maybe they are trying to give Porter more responsibility, and saving Dan a bit.
Our bench looks formidable so hope we are in touching distance when Dan et al. get on the pitch.
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I'm not familiar with many of the Briz players. Their 8 has only got 1 previous appearance.
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I'm not familiar with many of the Briz players. Their 8 has only got 1 previous appearance.
Bradbury? Almost 20 caps for Scotland, moved down from Edinburgh in the Summer. I assume his one appearance was last week!
He's a proper player.
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I'm not familiar with many of the Briz players. Their 8 has only got 1 previous appearance.
Front row is decent enough - Jake Woolmore and Yann Thomas have pretty much swapped the 1 and 17 shirt for the last four years. Will Capon 22 y/o hooker, stocky, good ball carrier, maybe not the best at throwing, been a back-up to Thacker and Bryan Byrne (Irish hooker signed from Leinster a couple of years ago) for a few seasons now.
Back row, Heenan a bit of a journeyman, played for Connacht for a few years, can play across the backrow. Sam Jefferies had a few years out and came back, good season last year saw him called up for England, tall, decent carrier. Magnus Bradbury is a Scottish international (19 caps), came from Edinburgh this season, powerful and hard worker. Sam Lewis was released by Worcester this summer and joined Bristol after a trial, typical Welsh 7.
Sam Bedlow has been around the team for a few years, 27 but struggled with injuries, can be a bit of a liability discipline-wise. Jack Bates 21 year old winger, former Eng U20, came through last year, fast. Rich Lane came from the Championship last year (from Bedford, Jersey before that), primarily a full back but also plays wing, solid under high balls and a good step.
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I'm not familiar with many of the Briz players. Their 8 has only got 1 previous appearance.
Bradbury? Almost 20 caps for Scotland, moved down from Edinburgh in the Summer. I assume his one appearance was last week!
He's a proper player.
Bradbury is frighteningly good.
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I'm not familiar with many of the Briz players. Their 8 has only got 1 previous appearance.
Bradbury? Almost 20 caps for Scotland, moved down from Edinburgh in the Summer. I assume his one appearance was last week!
He's a proper player.
Bradbury is frighteningly good.
Well I did say I wasn't familiar with Briz players, though Bradbury's name did ring a bell. Ignorance is no excuse. :-[ :-[
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I'm not familiar with many of the Briz players. Their 8 has only got 1 previous appearance.
Bradbury? Almost 20 caps for Scotland, moved down from Edinburgh in the Summer. I assume his one appearance was last week!
He's a proper player.
Bradbury is frighteningly good.
Well I did say I wasn't familiar with Briz players, though Bradbury's name did ring a bell. Ignorance is no excuse. :-[ :-[
As an Edinburgh member we were not pleased to see him up sticks especially as he had been supported through a "difficult" period. As a Wasps STH I was not pleased to see where he ended up.
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I'm with those who think having Dan on the bench is to prevent the melt down that happened last week.
Can Dan not play 80 minutes anymore, thought he played really well last week and was taken off after 55 minutes. Maybe he got a knock
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I really can’t buy the stack your bench tactic. In the case of Robson are we really suggesting that someone who was integral to us getting a big lead is going to come on second half to stop us doing so again……even though their absence may mean we don’t have the lead. He must have a knock.
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I'm another mystified by Robson being on the bench, I thought Atkinson was at his best with Robbo at 9 last week.
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Robson played really well last week. Like others, I guess he’s got a niggle and hasn’t been in full training this week.
But I also can’t help thinking that if he hadn’t fired out that bullet pass at 100 mph which travelled about 5 yards, then bounced off Spink’s chest giving possession to Glaws ….
However I would start him. Mainly because I’m thinking that bullet pass wasn’t really meant for Spink at all, but Atkinson. Maybe I’m dreaming this! I guess we’ll never know what the outcome would have been.
But maybe he’s coming off the bench with the new FH, taking some pressure off him?
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Personally, I think the Porter/Robson decision may be down to kicking. Robson is our best box-kicker and that is our go to for kick receipt. With Bristol being a team who rarely put boot to ball we may be going with a more dynamic, high tempo approach from Porter as turnover ball is likely to come from breakdowns and handling errors rather than kicks. Robson then being used to come on for the last 30 mins to control the game with territorial kicks.
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It's a long season that's going to need at least 2 scrum half at the top of their game, if we are going to finish Top 6.
If Porter is always the sub, then he's never going to be able to raise his overall game.
These days, every position gets rotation, and rightly so.
You can't place that much responsibility and emphasis on a single player.
To succeed, you need two players performing well. Competing against each other. Raising standards.
Porter needs a start, for his own development and motivation....and to keep Dobby sharp too.
We need that healthy competition that Simmo used to share with Dobby.
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Don't forget we also have a third quality scrum half, who we have mainly used as a winger, and who re-signed for this season
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And Woolstenholme who was actually picked ahead of Porter a fair bit over the last two years before Porter found some form in the last third of the season
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And Woolstenholme who was actually picked ahead of Porter a fair bit over the last two years before Porter found some form in the last third of the season
+1.
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And Woolstenholme who was actually picked ahead of Porter a fair bit over the last two years before Porter found some form in the last third of the season
Shame he is injured as he could increase competition.
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When he is on form Dobby is by far our best SH, in fact I'd argue he's the best in the league.
Last week suggested he is close to form again after a disappointing season last time round. So I can't find any justification for benching him. If it's because of injury then he shouldn't play. He could end up playing the whole game from the bench anyway.
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Agree with the VV. Hope we don’t pay the price. What makes him even better is that wrongly in my view his Eng days seem over so he’s available all year.
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When he is on form Dobby is by far our best SH, in fact I'd argue he's the best in the league.
Last week suggested he is close to form again after a disappointing season last time round. So I can't find any justification for benching him. If it's because of injury then he shouldn't play. He could end up playing the whole game from the bench anyway.
I think these days, every rugby player carries a knock or two.
I suppose it’s about managing those knocks.