Always a Wasp

It's been an unsual few days in the VV house.

On Thursday night I had a phone call from my wife round about the time she was due to be getting home from work.  I wasn't concerned as she'd said she was going to vote on her way back so my be a bit late.

Turns out she'd popped into the local Tesco to use the loo and had slipped on something on the floor that someone had spilled and now her arm really hurt.

At 3am when we were finally released from A&E it turns out she'd broken both her wrist and her elbow. 

She isn't allowed to drive now and so instead of her working and me looking after the kids, I am down at the office looking after things while she spends the day trying not to be in too much pain at home.

So apologies for not being around much...

I am oddly calm about today's match.  I firmly believe we can win it, and win it conclusively.  But I also believe we could completely choke and Sarries could do a number on us.  If I'm being honest, I think the latter is probably more likely.  Ive seen nothign revently to suggest we can recreate the form of the Valentines day massacre.

So here's to being proven wrong!

#COYW!

I don't know if it is a good way to look at things, but I tend to look at which position provides ball for which other position, and which players have to communicate with which in order to function at their best.

Theoretically the back row forwards provide ball to the 9 from the loose, but in reality all of our pack does that pretty well.  Which might be the problem.  Two of our best have been TT and Youngyoung.  Both seem a little off the pace since spending time with their respective international squads.  I guess it's down to  the fact that the style of play that works so well for us doesn't fit so nicely in the international team, and they are trying to show they can do what they have been told they need to do.  Hopefully this is now in the past and they can concentrate on doing what they do best for us.

The front row picks itself if fit.  Mullan, Taylor, JCW.  Though Chesty, Ash/Fester/Cruse and Moore can all fit in perfectly well and offer something of their own. 

The second row needs to have Launch and A N Other.  For me it's a toss up between Myall and Symons.  Probably the latter based on his physicality, but the former if we suspect the lineout might be an area of weakness.

The back row is tougher.  Nate was off the pace earlier, but looks to be coming back to his best, so I'd have him, I don't think Hasks is right at all and doesn't make the team for me.  I'd play Thompson and Youngyoung as starters, possibly Ashley if YY isn't firing.

My 9-10 combo is Simmo and Cips.  They communicate well together and I think Cips instructs the 9 better than Gopperth.  Robson I think is indeed less in form than he was and it can;t be completely laid at the door of the rest of the team.  I think getting Simmo on and having him run himself into the ground over 50-60 minutes and then bring Robson on is as good as we can do.

The next question is who runs off Cips best.  I think Gopperth and Leiua both offer the same powerful hard lines, and whilst Gopperth always has half an eye on what the rest of the team is doing, Leiua runs better lines.  I'd put him at 12.  Daly picks himself at 13.  It;s where he's been best for us, and having him on the pitch is scary for the opposition if for no reason other than his ability to pop penalties over from anywhere within 60m.

Wings are equally simple for me.  Wade and WLR have both played well on the wing, come infield often and look for work.  Wade can score from anywhere if he gets the ball, and WLR - whilst he doesn't have the sheer blinding ability of Wade seems to partner extremely well in the back three with Beale who imho is our best 15.  He isn't as secure under the high ball than Miller (who may or may not be fit) but his vision, ability to offload, and the way he partners with WLR means he should start for me.

Simpson
Cipriani
WLR
Leiua
Daly
Wade
Beale
Mullan
Taylor
JCW
Launch
Symons
Thompson
Young
Hughes

Chesty
Johson
Moore
Myall
Reider
Gopperth
Robson
Bassett

Would be my choice, but that is based on both assumed fitness, and not having seen any training.

Sorry for your loss Harry

When I look at how we have performed for the last couple of seasons, and what appears to be happening now I am reminded of Sarries a few years ago when they were on the rise.  They were pretty dominant in the league and the Heiney, but failed to make it count at the last moment.  They managed to use that as a learning point and have gone on to dominate both competitons.

I really want to think we are following a similar trajectory, and whilst we have a good squad and can play some great rugby we are simply not experienced enough or hard-nosed enough to win silverware right now.  But I am deeply concerned that our lack of signings and squad improvement will stop any further improvement.  I can't help but worry that this might be as good as it gets and that next year we will be struggling to get into the top 4 again.  Beale is leaving, Leiua is leaving, Halai is leaving, Hasks is clearly struggling, we still don't have a first choice specialist 12, neither Cips nor Gopps seem to be able to perform well enough to claim the starting shirt.

It looks like we're only an few injuries away from struggling to field a decent team at all at the moment.

Damn. Not a lot to say to that...

Sadly I'll be beating people to within an inch of their lives in exchange for money in Surrey. But raise a glass for me!

That can't be far off our best team possible from the squad.  JCW and Hughes as starters perhaps, and the eternal debate about 9 & 10, but if those guys are all firing we can beat anyone in the world.