Always a Wasp

Maybe it was the frustration of the result but I was really irritated by the BT coverage today. Not sure what Wasps have ever done to Bayfield but he focusses on us as little as possible. Throughout the game the commentary was based on Irish’s emerging England stars such as Parton, Hassell-Collins and Pearson. Even as we took them apart the focus was on Jones in the crowd and who he might select from an Irish team we were demolishing. Back to the studio where Kay and Healey were flippant about the game and offered no comment - well it wasn’t Tigers after all. Really poor from BT I thought and they normally do a good job.

The position that’s starting to intrigue me for next year is 13. Most of the rest of it is falling into place. It seems we’ll be seeing Atkinson/WHW at 10 and Umaga at 15 as a general template. Odendaal will start at 12 given Jimmy’s absence. So what about 13. I’m not sure a midfield of Odendaal and Spink has enough attack wise. But maybe that’s ok with Umaga at 15. We could move Odogwu in one and with Odendaal carrying he could be lethal in attack. But he’s positionally suspect at 13. Blackett has said he may sign a hard running back - if he does that may well be at 13. It’s the one position I think there is some real uncertainty about for next year.

Actually much better from England but we were playing as plucky underdogs. When did that happen? How Youngs starts is beyond me and if we played a second row of Lawes and Itoje we’d have a chance. Marchant has emerged as a future and current 13. We’ve lost three games in consecutive 6N which really isn’t good enough. A well coached side in France wins it - the contrast with our head coach is stark - woeful decisions throughout and a general regression.

Accepting that teams on paper win nothing but still requiring a boost after Saints I wonder if we can allow ourselves some optimism in terms of our current (as perceived by me) problems and the fixes visible down the line. To start with we’ve lost loads of possession, field position and points due to scrum penalties. Next year Koch instantly transforms that. Coupled with Martinez signing at LH and Alo’s upturn in form it should become a way for us to win games. Second, we’ve played the thick end of 2 seasons trying to patch Gopperth up to squeeze more time out of him at 12. Odendaal brings what will hopefully be a bit of solidity, quality and physicality. Injuries are cyclical so it’s a bit hopeful and maybe misguided to say we won’t have any but long term injuries for Launchbury, Willis, Barbeary, Fekitoa and Odogwu really tore the heart out of us. You’d hope that wouldn’t be repeated. On the flip side in the interest of balance I can’t see any resolution to the problem I think we do have at 10. Atkinson is fine. He’s a young 10 who will improve and we should invest in. But he’s not front rank yet. Umaga has flashes of genius. But unfortunately I cannot think of one game where he hasn’t accompanied the good bits with at least three or four pieces of abject play. I compare that to the control the likes of Hastings, MacGinty, Simmonds, Ford, Jackson, Biggar and Grayson give their teams and we’re miles away. Finances dictate that I don’t think that problems getting fixed. I think we’ll see some new faces in the back three which will freshen things up there which is all we really need there. All theory I know and some may want to see some coaching changes to get optimistic but I’m hopeful long standing issues are getting fixed. They need to as it can’t always be jam tomorrow.

Must admit I was appalled at the noise in Twickenham as place kicks were attempted. Is it okay to be totally disrespectful if you’ve had a man sent off? I really worry that round ball mentality/actions continue to creep in to rugby. Hopefully those culpable are transient corporate visitors - it felt very uncomfortable.

No promotion from the championship at the end of 22-23. Apparently a 14 team league would have been welcomed but neither Doncaster nor Ealing (the only two to register) do not have sufficient capacity (need 10,001 and only have 5,000). A shame - I’d have liked a 14 team league.

Just to recap. In three of our last four games we’ve beaten the league leaders, the league’s second placed team and the reigning European champions. Not bad that.