Morning all Waspies from a dark and quiet Guildford...I am up with the lark -although at this hour I think the lark is still tucked away- and getting the old percolator going to infuse the house with that wonderful caffeinated beverage aroma kindly supplied from Columbia (at least this is one thing they export legally). This is the start of a week off for myself and the wife who herself is a medic/area manager in the ambulance service, and we are looking forward to removing our collective noses from the grindstone temporarily and enjoying the rugby, starting with our lads trip to Welford Road today.
Strangely I am not confident on this game, Borthwicks style and fingerprint is starting to become more apparent from our neighbours this term. I always felt that Cockerill was the fulcrum of Tigers success and built on that hard nosed forward edge the Richards cultivated so well. Over recent seasons their identity was lost, and even had the faithful in the Crumbie scratching their heads as they watched their team slide towards the trap door. However one of gods angels must wear a tigers shirt as it was only Saracens self inflicted demolition of their success and lack of honest transparency that saved them from their first ever relegation. This is not a concern for them this year, as although they are not flying ever upwards on a irresistible wave, they are getting their edge back, some creativity and grittiness that teams in our wonderful game require. They are no means the finished article as last week against Quins proved, but they are also by no means a threat to be ignored.
We on the other hand are still finding our feet since the enforced break. Last week against Warriors was a little to Jekyll and Hyde for my comfort. A wonderful, controlled first forty was followed by a poorly managed second. It was a step forward from the abolition that was the Harlequins game and the left our brains in the changing room fixture that was the Northampton tie, but much remains for Lee and his coaches to work upon. Injuries and call ups have had an impact, but this is a time for the wider squad to shine, to show that they deserve not only to be playing but to keep on doing so when others return. Do not get me wrong, I have faith in our squad, our academy and our coaches, and I feel we will be pushing around top 4/6 come seasons end, but something Intangible in my gripe water feels that Tigers will out today.
I may be predicting a Tigers home win, but I will be cheering our lads on to victory as well....counterintuitive some might say, but to us rugby and Wasp mad brethren I would have it no other way!
Come on you Wasps!
Chris
Once a Wasp ALWAYS a Wasp!