I think what we are seeing is two sides that have got a style that runs deep through their squad. The other ten teams have realised that they need to follow those examples. Maybe not THE style, but the ethos of having a squad deep in the same style.
Their recruitment starts to reflect that. Sure, they still try to buy in the Galacticos and big stars, but their focus is in their academies and recruiting quality discovered elsewhere (like the Championship). It's in their training, at all levels.
You can see it changing at Wasps. To an extent, and quite obvious at times yesterday, it is still forced, artificial. But it is starting to happen. For me, in their Premiership games, Wasps have been steadily improving towards a cohesive unit. It is painful at times to watch, but you can see where they are headed. The more they play, the more the team plays as a team, and buys in to this ethos.
That is why you have (after today, and let's assume it is a win and not a draw) half of the table (6 teams) all on 3 wins out of 9 games. And four teams on 4 or 5 wins. And the two at the top. Nobody is unbeatable, on the day. Heck, we COULD have won that game yesterday. We didn't because our new style is too fragile, our team not fully a team, not fully believing.
But, as the season unfolds, those ten teams will each get better, the games closer and more exciting, more cohesive and flowing.
Bristol, under Pat Lam, have clearly learned from their up and down previous two years. He is building that side up, week by week. With some ex-wasps that are not looking so shabby.
I think what worries Dai is that, here we are in December and still no announcements of contract extensions. January will be here soon and I fear we will see players leaving; too many. I don't want to see him bringing in stars to replace them for the sake of it. I want to see rough diamonds coming in, like Brookes and Matthews, who will slot in to our new style. I want to see academy guys, like Willis, Porter, Sirker, Umaga and many others, coming through to the main squad. Have you really seen any of them that have pulled that shirt on that haven't shown the potential to be in the main squad? I haven't. Bring some stars in from the Championship as well. We have seen how well Booj and Rosco have stepped up and shone.
Sure, there will always be some big names, like Sopoaga and maybe Fekitoa next year. But will they stay? Look at Beale, WLR. They came, they went. We might like them for the posters, but I am not sure they added anything to the future of Wasps. Those 'lesser' players, to whom we give the chance, may well turn out to stay longer, and be the backbone of Wasps for the coming years. By now Dai must have a good idea of what positions he needs to fill, after promoting the academy players. Fill your boots from the Championship, Dai, where there are plenty more heroes to be found. Poaching from other Premiership clubs is pointless, although every club will let go players from their academies, or young main squad players, sometimes because they have no room for them in their positions, or they don't fit the club 'style'.
That's what I think Dai should be doing. Less expensive players equals a bigger squad, and a higher EQP ratio. It has to be the way forwards.