Always a Wasp
General Category => Wasps Rugby Discussion => Topic started by: Raggs on June 13, 2020, 02:07:56 PM
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Obviously it's a quiet time, so time for a bit of a disagreement.
1. ZuZu
2. Taylor
3. Alo
4. Launch
5. Gaskell
6. J Willis
7. Young
8. Vailanu
9. Robson
10. Umaga
11. Bassett
12. Mills
13. Fekitoa
14. Minozzi
15. Sopoaga
16. Cruse
17. West
18. Brookes
19. Rowlands
20. Shields
21. Vellacott
22. Gopps
23. Watson
Hard picks in places, Flament, Willis Jr, Wolstenholme, Porter, Gopps starting?, Oghre? Harris? JdJ...
Tempting to have JdJ in the 23 shirt, since Vellacott can cover wing.
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I'd be going.
1) Zhvania
2) Taylor
3) Brookes
4) Launchbury
5) Rowlands
6) J Willis
7) Young
8) T Willis
9) Robson
10) Umaga
11) Kibirige
12) Gopperth
13) Fekitoa
14) Watson
15) Sopoaga
16) Cruse
17) Harris
18) Alo
19) Gaskell
20) Vailanu
21) Vellacott
22) Mills
23) Minozzi
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Back 3 has definitely become interesting now. For me Kibirige, Watson, Basset and Minozzi are all right up there. NOt sure we're going to be able to hold onto all 4 if Sops moves to fullback long term.
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1. Big Mac
2. Taylor
3. Brookes
4. Launch
5. Flament
6. J Willis
7. Young
8. Shields
9. Robson
10. Umaga
11. Bassett
12. Gopperth
13. Fekitoa
14. Kibirige
15. Sopoaga
16. Oghre
17. West
18. Alo
19. Rowlands
20. T Willis/Morris
21. Vellacott
22. Mills
23. Minozzi
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I think I'd go with Heathen's pick - though I think Brad may well be going elsewhere :'(, so I'd start Vailanu at 8.
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1. Zhvania
2. Taylor
3. Biyi Alo
4. Launchbury
5. Gaskell
6. J Willis
7. Young
8. T Willis
9. Robson
10. Umaga
11. Minnozi
12. Gopperth
13. Fekitoa
14. Kibirige
15. Sopoaga (assuming he's as good as he was in last 3 games)
16. Oghre
17. Harris
18. Brookes
19. Flament
20. Shields
21. Vellacott
22. Mills
23. Watson
I'll add Sirker will be back and before his injury looked like a try scoring machine. But I'd stick with Minnozi and Kibirige for now (if possible, assuming Minnozi can play at 11).
Also I have my ideal 23, but sometimes it'll need rotation based on strategy. E.g. I've picked a Jackel back row, but Vailanu and Shields could improve other aspects such as carrying.
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I'd also go with Heathen's pick initially.
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Brookes at 3 gives us solidity in the scrum, but he's disappointed me with his game outside the set piece, just seems to lack concentration, maybe with less time on the pitch, he'd be able to manage it better. Feel Biyi has offered more recently.
Can't believe I forgot big Mac! Between him, ZuZu and West, we're really well stocked. Even then, with Wests performances recently, I don't know if I could drop him.
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I'm going with John's list (Heathen), except for 11. Torn between Sirker or Minozzi.
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I'm going with John's list (Heathen), except for 11. Torn between Sirker or Minozzi.
Heathen's as well. Currently leave Josh at 11 with Minozzi covering positions. Not sure about Sirker - promise and speed yes but 15 a side yet to prove himself.
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Can't believe I forgot Shields - one if my favourite players. Agree about Sirker - endless promise but surely still behind Bassett, Kibirige, Odogwu, Watson and Minozzi.
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I'm going with John's list (Heathen), except for 11. Torn between Sirker or Minozzi.
Heathen's as well. Currently leave Josh at 11 with Minozzi covering positions. Not sure about Sirker - promise and speed yes but 15 a side yet to prove himself.
People seem to forget that Sirker had the highest strike rate in the Prem Shield competition (2nd highest try scorer even though Wasps didn't progress to the knock out stages!) and was the only Wasps player to cross the whitewash when he made his Senior debut against Sarries in the Prem Cup. If he hadn't have injured himself in his very next game whilst playing on loan for Ampthill (madness!!) I honestly believe he'd have broken through this season and perhaps gone on to establish himself as a regular Prem starter notwithstanding his sevens pedigree.
I'm hoping he'll pick up where he left off once he's fully fit.
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I felt that Sirker was still learning how to find space and use it in 15's.
I won't mention defence as this is now a dirty word after Christian and Kibirige, who both have done more than enough on offence to justify selection.
Same backs as the end of last season [Jacob 10, Lima 15]
Rowlands is a current International so he joins Joe
Vailanu at 8 to take the pressure off Jack Willis as a carrier.
Tom Willis has a way to go before starting.
Brookes at 3.
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I would want to start Minozzi on the wing if I could, rather than covering.
Back row is still a headache even with departures! Still strong for us.
Don't really know enough about the front row come set pieces, but I am always surprised at how much stick is given to Brookes about his work rate about the field which seems fine to my untrained eye. Maybe people expect more from their front rows nowadays.
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For me it's not so much Brookes' workrate, but his concentration. It seems fairly frequent that he'll be jogging up the field, head down, not paying attention too the game.
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I'm a firm believer in getting your best players on the pitch so I'd also go with a back row of Willis, Young and Shields.
Tempted to go with Minozzi, Kibirige and Sops in the back 3 to maximize try scoring potential but could be persuaded to have Bertie in place of either of them to add some height and weight.
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Brookes at 3 gives us solidity in the scrum, but he's disappointed me with his game outside the set piece, just seems to lack concentration, maybe with less time on the pitch, he'd be able to manage it better. Feel Biyi has offered more recently.
Can't believe I forgot big Mac! Between him, ZuZu and West, we're really well stocked. Even then, with Wests performances recently, I don't know if I could drop him.
Also behind Biyi and Brookes there is still JTA (really hoping he starts to adjust) and Owlett so pretty much 4 potential starters in every front row position.
Harris, ZZ, Mac, West
Taylor, Cruse, Oghre, Barbeary
Brookes, Alo, JTA, Owlett
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Yes, and we'll need them. Was particularly impressed with West last year. Alo has transformed himself and Harris never lets anyone down. Good depth here.
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Wow. I completely forgot about JTA - he will be desperate to have a strong season.
I think the squad looks strong. I’m hoping the likes of Tom Willis, Sirker, Tibhaud, Oghre, Wolstenholme follow the example set by Jacob and really step up.
If Sirker has made a good recovery he will be one to watch.