Always a Wasp

Acutely frustrating though our current run of form is I don't think most Wasps fans are or need to panic. There's been some OTT reaction across various Wasps based vehicles of fan interaction (not really on here). Outlandish recruitment is suggested, coaching deficiencies proved, whole set ups in question and talk of relegation in a season and a half's time. Five games ago we were the best team in the league. Various circumstances that we are all well rehearsed in have played out but will right themselves. The league is still tight and climbable. I think we just need a break here and there to go for us and we'll be fine (written as much to reassure myself as anyone else)!!

Many things are costing us at the moment but by far our most serious issue is indiscipline. I can accept skill levels, confidence and fitness not being there but infringing just doesn't need to happen. I wonder what the coaches are saying to the players in the week? Surely this must be a massively prevalent topic of conversation. Even one of the games we won Blackett highlighted that he's never won a game conceding that many penalties. I don't understand why we keep repeating it. Gaskell is by far the worst offender and must be close to being dropped for it. JTA has conceded the most scrum penalties in the league. But everyone is doing it and we're basically ruling ourselves out of game after game.

What a nightmare. Feel so sorry for him. Looks a bad one.

We currently have an exciting crop of youngsters that are bursting with potential but need careful management. I suppose the case in point is Umaga. Two poor games from him so what's the best way? Do we give him time out of the firing line? We can easily do it with options at 10. Or do we keep selecting him and hope he plays through it? We do have to bear in mind he has less than 30 prem games. Maybe it's time for Atkinson to get a string of games. But we seem to be pinning our colours to the mast in terms of him being our main 10 so will dropping him do more damage?

Bit of uncertainty with England call ups etc but all is far from lost. With some injury luck I reckon we could field something like this 23 on Sunday:

McIntyre
Cruse
Brookes
Gaskell
Cardall
Willis
Young
Shields
Porter
Umaga
Bassett
Gopperth
Fekitoa
Kibirige
Sopoaga

Bench
Harris
Taylor
JTA
Douglass
T Willis
Vellacott
Watson
Mills

Far from shabby!

Call me old fashioned but I'm absolutely stunned that Sinckler blatantly used the F word directly to the ref in the Chiefs v Brizz game today and escaped sanction. I'd have just redded him without a moments hesitation. Is this acceptable now? We've got to be careful that this doesn't creep in wholesale otherwise so much of what we love in the game will be compromised.

We are completely transformed under Blackett and his coaching team. One of the things I've been most impressed with is the amount of problem solving they've got through in terms of the team which in turn has given us lots and lots of options now as a squad. We can rotate the front row without lack of impact. We can reliably count Barbeary, Oghre and Gaskell as back rowers. They've unearthed Odogwu as an acceptable 13 and Lima as a possible 15. They've introduced countless youngsters - not forgetting in that the development of Umaga, Willis and West who are now seen as established. It all works because of the trust they convey to the players in terms of their ability. The net result is if you now had to pick our best 23 the options would be wide and varied. All that's left for the coaching team is to turn their amazing work into a trophy or two.

Watched the Sale v Edinburgh game last night. Really crystallised in my mind that we are on the right track in terms of progress via our academy. Endless SA imports had all the zip of porridge for them. Thought that off the top of my head we could feasibly and without fear field a team that contains
West, Barbeary, Oghre, Cardall, Curran, Porter, Atkinson, Umaga, Spink, Simonds, Willis, Willis and Sirker. I think those in charge deserve praise for the switch in direction we've managed in a short space of time from the necessity of the galacticos to a fantastic sustainable and exciting academy based model.