Wasps Interim Head Coach Lee Blackett spoke to the media ahead of Saturday's Gallagher Premiership clash with Gloucester Rugby at Ricoh Arena (kick-off 2.30pm).
Here’s what he had to say:
On the support at London Irish
It was ridiculously special in terms of how many people were at Irish. When I was on the way back home in the car with my seven-year-old daughter, she turned to me and said: “Daddy, this London Irish fan in front of us said there were more Wasps fans than London Irish fans!”
Just listening to the noise when we scored, or decisions going the other way, you wouldn’t have known if we were home or away.
When I arrived a few years ago I couldn’t believe the support we got away from home and it just took you back to that. The crowd were brilliant and it made a massive difference. The boys definitely felt it.
On Gloucester Rugby
The big thing for us this week is finishing this block off. We had a great result against Worcester, not the one we wanted at Leicester but we’ve followed that with two five-point performances so we’re happy and confident and it’s all about trying to finish the week off against Gloucester who will be desperate for a win.
They’re a great team on paper and that’s the danger because you know at some point they’re going to click and you know they’re going to come back.
Yes we’re gaining confidence, there’s no doubt about that. It’s about keeping that but also keeping our feet on the ground. We have to keep going game by game.
The big thing from the weekend was some of our habits – some really positive ones.
We can’t get ahead of ourselves and we have to keep that desire and a lot of that is player-led. They want us to get better, they want us to improve. Dan Robson, Brad Shields, Jimmy Gopperth, Ashley Johnson - they’re staying on top of people at the moment. It’s really good to see the leadership developing within the group.
Injury/team news
Zach Kibirige (hamstring) is out for 2-3 weeks.
Will Rowlands has gone back to Wales and they don’t think it’s too serious so hopefully he’ll be available this week (if you’re Welsh!).
Matteo Minozzi doesn’t have a game this weekend due to it being postponed but he’s not going to be here. We’ve asked medical advice and he’s staying in Italy till next Tuesday as a precaution.
Michael Le Bourgeois (MCL) is likely to be out for a couple of months.
Juan de Jongh (wrist) is out for a couple of months.
Injuries at centre mean it gives people like Sam Spink a great opportunity. He’s probably not had as much game-time as we’d have liked over the past couple of years through injuries but he’s someone we’ve targeted for a long time. With him being fit now it gives us a great opportunity to get him a bit of game-time.
Tom Willis (groin) just started training last week and is available for selection.
Topic: Lee's Press Notes - Wednesday 4 March (Read 1038 times)
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