As I said in the match thread, I only watched the 2nd half …
I as impressed by all the replacements, especially the front row who continued make the scrum something that didn’t drive us behind the sofa or peeking through our fingers as our hands cover our eyes. I’m sure that gave the rest of the team confidence and allowed them to be a bit more expansive and fear a knock on which would be followed by a penalty against us. That’s not a criticism of any individual, just a consequence of the injury list.
Dan looked sharp and alert, except once behind a ruck on their line when the ball popped out. His flat passes allowed us to break the gain line far more than we have during his absence. He’s obviously been working on the flat kick that’s becoming the fashion.
I know Itoje was missing, but our lineout looked really solid, and Gabby looked at ease when he took over the darts, and and it was great to see them disrupting Sarries’ lineout and even stealing a few. Yes, we’ll miss Fifeta but we still have some of the best 2nd rowers in the Prem.
I’m still a bit concerned that we do a lot of huffing and puffing in the last 5m without much success, but I suppose that will come. I’m also concerned that I still have a sense of foreboding every time they oppo get the ball, but I think that’s just the lot of a Wasps fan, it strikes me that it always seems to be so.
If Brad hasn’t earned player of the season already someone is going to have an amazing 2nd half. What an engine and what commitment.