Always a Wasp
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47
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Additions to Squad
« on: April 24, 2019, 10:48:29 AM »
So, do we think that is it then? Or will we announce further signings in the coming few weeks? As mentioned earlier it's gone a bit quiet on the rumour front (no bad thing) especially concerning the likes of Naholo (who at one point was linked to Irish I'm sure!). Where do people think we still need to strengthen? For me it's mainly the back line. Just a couple more players to build things a bit more securely...
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
50
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Saracens - naughty naughty, very naughty
« on: April 11, 2019, 12:05:58 PM »
Naughty boys in nasty schools, headmasters breaking all the rules... For some reason those lyrics spring to mind. Look, call me cynical but nothing will come of this. As mentioned above they are currently the poster boys of Union with the superstars (though this is obviously why they have them!). Have to wonder though, with so few games left, if they WERE fined enough points to see them drop, how many players would stick around?
Definitely complete speculation and rhetorical etc so not really worth discussing, but still…
Definitely complete speculation and rhetorical etc so not really worth discussing, but still…
51
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: More news coming from Wasps
« on: March 21, 2019, 01:38:58 PM »
Yep, a Mutley sniggering... if they are toying with us all in such a manner I doff my cap to them for fun level if it turns out to be the news that has been on the vine. Though could easily be another Young player resigining... if you get my drift.
52
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Nic Berry
« on: February 28, 2019, 01:34:16 PM »He reffed the France/Scots game last week. Did a decent job IMO.
The likes of him, Karl Dickson, Glen Jackson, Richard Haughton are the future of refereeing
I didn't get to watch that game so wasn't aware.
Yes you are spot on IMO, Karl Dickson has been doing great as has Glen Jackson. RH clearly can't be doing bad for himself reffing on the 7s stage, but I don't really get the chance to watch much 7s so can't comment on how good he is.
Great to see, and hope to see more (though without the enforced retirements preferably!)
53
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Nic Berry
« on: February 28, 2019, 11:30:41 AM »
I've only just twigged that the referee for the England v Italy Six Nations game is none other than former Wasps Scrum-Half Nic Berry (yes late to the party probably as all refs were announced ages ago).
I knew he had risen quickly through the Super Rugby ranks as a referee but not sure I had ever realised he was refereeing internationally. Really pleased to see though, given his enforced retirement from playing for us, as he was not only a great player but a really good guy with a good eye for the laws (obviously important as a referee).
Am very pro former players becoming referees. I think it gives them an edge over non-player refs as they potentially have a better understanding of flow and ebb to games as well as some of the more nitty-gritty technicalities on pitch. Equally I would imagine it makes them better at spotting those little niggly infringements that players make resulting in, one would hope, better discipline enforcement on pitch. Just an opinion mind.
I knew he had risen quickly through the Super Rugby ranks as a referee but not sure I had ever realised he was refereeing internationally. Really pleased to see though, given his enforced retirement from playing for us, as he was not only a great player but a really good guy with a good eye for the laws (obviously important as a referee).
Am very pro former players becoming referees. I think it gives them an edge over non-player refs as they potentially have a better understanding of flow and ebb to games as well as some of the more nitty-gritty technicalities on pitch. Equally I would imagine it makes them better at spotting those little niggly infringements that players make resulting in, one would hope, better discipline enforcement on pitch. Just an opinion mind.
54
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: RP
« on: February 25, 2019, 09:51:30 AM »
Huge talent and would largely be a great signing... However I would worry about how fragile he may be following a third concussion (this time after being knocked out inside five minutes of Brumbies game against melbourne!). He's not likely to be playing again soon (missed their game against the Chiefs). Players like that become more of a liability than anything else in my opinion (I’m amazed George North is still playing, for example!).
55
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Good News Announcement, Twitter
« on: February 18, 2019, 01:55:04 PM »
Just looking at the 2018 6Ns team and where the players stand (or atleast where their teams stand) in current leagues, a logical probability is Matteo Minozzi given where Zebre are in the Pro14... Not a bad prospect at all!
56
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Is Dai the right man to lead the club?
« on: February 11, 2019, 12:18:33 PM »
In a word, yes. In more than a word, hell yes!
Look it’s easy to simply say “Wasps are having a bad time, out with the DoR” but it is far more nuanced than that, as has been said (plus I don’t believe the football approach of sack mid-season works at all!). Dai has indeed shown incredible loyalty to the club and the club, by sticking withi him as well when things haven’t been quite going our way, have shown that loyalty back. So we’re having a tough season. Doesn’t mean we are a bad team.
We have all sorts going on, but the question over Dai’s leadership is surely answered by our table finishes the last few seasons rather than how we are looking in the middle of the current season! We are still well in the game for a top four finish. I would argue that the departures we have seen are no bad thing in the long run. If they want to go let them, it means we can sign players who want to play for the club and I believe Dai can and will do that where he has the funds!
He can’t control some of the off field issues (SISU, Training ground, players wanting to depart) but how he responds both the rest of this season and indeed next will, to my mind, prove he is well and truly the man to continue to lead our club.
A great article that I think probably stands for the majority of the supporters. As ever it is the minority who are the most vocal (and footballish to my mind!).
Look it’s easy to simply say “Wasps are having a bad time, out with the DoR” but it is far more nuanced than that, as has been said (plus I don’t believe the football approach of sack mid-season works at all!). Dai has indeed shown incredible loyalty to the club and the club, by sticking withi him as well when things haven’t been quite going our way, have shown that loyalty back. So we’re having a tough season. Doesn’t mean we are a bad team.
We have all sorts going on, but the question over Dai’s leadership is surely answered by our table finishes the last few seasons rather than how we are looking in the middle of the current season! We are still well in the game for a top four finish. I would argue that the departures we have seen are no bad thing in the long run. If they want to go let them, it means we can sign players who want to play for the club and I believe Dai can and will do that where he has the funds!
He can’t control some of the off field issues (SISU, Training ground, players wanting to depart) but how he responds both the rest of this season and indeed next will, to my mind, prove he is well and truly the man to continue to lead our club.
A great article that I think probably stands for the majority of the supporters. As ever it is the minority who are the most vocal (and footballish to my mind!).
57
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Who are you really?
« on: February 05, 2019, 04:03:35 PM »
I love this idea. I am pretty certain it would bomb on the DW website, which I like many have finally kicked to the curb with just too much negativity and footballish attitudes.. but enough about that time to talk about me!
Dave, 30s, live in Surrey.
Started following Wasps back end of 2005/6 season having been dragged to a game by my oldest school friend who had chosen Wasps to support as they were good (well we all know bloody brilliant at that time). I hated rugby and sport at school so like to feel, as I didn’t know who Wasps were back then and just really enjoyed the spectacle and the atmosphere, I am the purer Wasps fan than he (who I lovingly joke is a glory hunter!)
I have been a huge Wasps fan since, was a season ticket holder for five years (before I couldn’t justify the cost any more) at AP, and have followed them all around Europe. Sadly have only been to the Ricoh once since we moved (mostly due to time and money), but am getting up there once more this season as my fiancée bought me a ticket gift voucher for my birthday (hurrah!).
Since converting to a rugby fan (no pun intended), have also been very active with supporting England (though always had a passing interest even before 2003!) and even went on the 2013 Lions tour, one of the highlights of my supporting journey!
What else… I’m an amateur writer, former local broadcaster, have been playing myself for ten years this season (lock and tighthead prop when needed) and also love Cricket and cooking and singing. one kid born last year.
I made a great group of friends during my really active time at Wasps and am hoping to catch up with many of them when I get back up later in the season.
Think that covers most of it.
Dave, 30s, live in Surrey.
Started following Wasps back end of 2005/6 season having been dragged to a game by my oldest school friend who had chosen Wasps to support as they were good (well we all know bloody brilliant at that time). I hated rugby and sport at school so like to feel, as I didn’t know who Wasps were back then and just really enjoyed the spectacle and the atmosphere, I am the purer Wasps fan than he (who I lovingly joke is a glory hunter!)
I have been a huge Wasps fan since, was a season ticket holder for five years (before I couldn’t justify the cost any more) at AP, and have followed them all around Europe. Sadly have only been to the Ricoh once since we moved (mostly due to time and money), but am getting up there once more this season as my fiancée bought me a ticket gift voucher for my birthday (hurrah!).
Since converting to a rugby fan (no pun intended), have also been very active with supporting England (though always had a passing interest even before 2003!) and even went on the 2013 Lions tour, one of the highlights of my supporting journey!
What else… I’m an amateur writer, former local broadcaster, have been playing myself for ten years this season (lock and tighthead prop when needed) and also love Cricket and cooking and singing. one kid born last year.
I made a great group of friends during my really active time at Wasps and am hoping to catch up with many of them when I get back up later in the season.
Think that covers most of it.
58
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Daly is going
« on: February 05, 2019, 03:46:07 PM »
There is plenty of reason to be disappointed in Elliot Daly’s departure at the end of the season. He’s a superb player who we have nurtured from start to departure. A great servant and I like many thank him for his dedication and service.
However, we still have plenty of superb players to make a credible and dangerous starting XV with inbound signings.
It is when you start to look at the full match day 23, more-so in the backs that things start to look a little light.
We currently only have two wings and two fullbacks, with WLR going that leaves one dedicated full-back in Rob Miller. Ok so Marcus Watson can play full-back, but who then do we play on the other wing to Josh Bassett? Looking at ins and outs we have got a healthy look to our forwards, and even a bit of back up at Scrum Half and Fly Half.
Our centres are still proving themselves and with Fekitoa inbound we have a strong core to choose from, and adaptable players like Gopps who can play 10 or 12 (I think he’s superb at 12 with a decent 10 to play outside of!).
We know to date of the loss of three props, two wings, one No.8, one FB and a centre and have announced one centre and two props... So where do we go from here? In my mind it is very much these two positions (wing and centre) that we are lacking and where our recruitment needs filling, possibly even another Scrum Half. We've plenty of props, back rows who can play strongly at 8 and centres!
One question on alarm bells, we currently have the biggest pool of outgoing players in the premiership to date… a sign that things are bad at Wasps? Not really in my mind, just that we need to look at the inbound to regain the momentum we hit in the run up to the 2017 final!
However, we still have plenty of superb players to make a credible and dangerous starting XV with inbound signings.
It is when you start to look at the full match day 23, more-so in the backs that things start to look a little light.
We currently only have two wings and two fullbacks, with WLR going that leaves one dedicated full-back in Rob Miller. Ok so Marcus Watson can play full-back, but who then do we play on the other wing to Josh Bassett? Looking at ins and outs we have got a healthy look to our forwards, and even a bit of back up at Scrum Half and Fly Half.
Our centres are still proving themselves and with Fekitoa inbound we have a strong core to choose from, and adaptable players like Gopps who can play 10 or 12 (I think he’s superb at 12 with a decent 10 to play outside of!).
We know to date of the loss of three props, two wings, one No.8, one FB and a centre and have announced one centre and two props... So where do we go from here? In my mind it is very much these two positions (wing and centre) that we are lacking and where our recruitment needs filling, possibly even another Scrum Half. We've plenty of props, back rows who can play strongly at 8 and centres!
One question on alarm bells, we currently have the biggest pool of outgoing players in the premiership to date… a sign that things are bad at Wasps? Not really in my mind, just that we need to look at the inbound to regain the momentum we hit in the run up to the 2017 final!