Times match report

[Heathen]

Wasps v Northampton: Hosts let victory slip but biggest battle in their 156-year history lies ahead
Wasps 36 Northampton Saints 40
Alex Lowe, Rugby Correspondent
Sunday October 09 2022, 7.00pm, The Times


In the grand scheme of things the disappointment felt by Wasps at the manner in which they lost this game will seem like small fry. The former English and European champions have a much more important battle to win as they enter arguably the biggest week of their 156-year history, with the grim prospect of administration looming large over the club.

Wasps have until next Monday to find £2 million and fend off a winding-up petition from HM Revenue & Customs, although there is also the wider issue of a £35 million bond that was supposed to be repaid in May.

David Armstrong, the former Wasps chief executive, is advising an investment firm, Terminum Capital, which is prepared to buy the club and the stadium — but only if the business goes into administration. Under RFU regulations, which have been applied to Worcester Warriors, administration would mean Wasps being relegated as punishment.

It is claimed that Armstrong, who was at the game on Sunday, has already made representations to the RFU that an insolvent sale should not lead to Wasps being demoted to the Championship. Lawrence Dallaglio, a Wasps director, questioned whether the RFU would want to lose Wasps from the Gallagher Premiership.

“They’ll say that any club that’s in administration has to go the same way as Worcester but the reality is: do you want to lose one of the biggest brands in club rugby, in world rugby and one of the brands that’s been one of the most successful sides in the Premiership? Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Dallaglio said on BT Sport.
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Dallaglio’s point, unsurprisingly, did not go down well with members of the Worcester community, who already believe their Premiership rivals were too happy to sit back and watch the club go to the wall. Luke Broadley, the former Worcester team manager, said Dallaglio’s argument “sums up what is wrong with the game”.

For 80 minutes the gathering gloom of the club’s uncertain future was held at bay as Wasps defied all manner of hurdles to score four tries and stand on the brink of a morale-boosting victory over Northampton Saints.

Sport, though, is a cruel mistress and in the 81st minute all their efforts were undone. Courtnall Skosan scored for Northampton with the final play of the game, finishing a sweeping attack from deep in their own half, to snatch the victory.

Wasps were spent, physically and emotionally. Two minutes earlier they held a 36-28 lead, with Jack Willis involved in two critical turnovers that appeared to have won them the game.
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Willis deserved to be on the winning side. Wasps has always been about heart and soul rather than bricks and mortar and Willis epitomised that. The England flanker was extraordinary again, setting the emotional tone for the team with the opening try. It was his first since the England game against Italy in February 2021, in which he wrecked his knee, and Willis reacted with a roar of celebration, punching the air.

Wasps built on that with a try from Paolo Odogwu, who scored wide on the right after a powerful maul and a series of pick-and-goes in the left corner had narrowed the Saints defence.

Northampton reduced the arrears shortly before the interval when Dan Biggar, who was struggling with a back injury, dragged the game out of a period of tedium with a kick ahead that caused chaos in the Wasps defence. He then tapped the ball on to Alex Coles for the try.

Wasps had lost Tom Willis and Vincent Koch before kick-off and then Ben Morris, who came in to start at No 8, was withdrawn with a head injury inside the opening quarter, while Joe Launchbury and Dan Robson failed to reappear after half-time.
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They coped with the setbacks well and found their way over the line again, with Gabriel Oghre touching down after Odogwu had spun out of a tackle like an NFL running back.

Charlie Atkinson then embarked on a brilliant run, beating five players before chipping ahead for Josh Bassett. Neither the Wasps wing nor Tommy Freeman, his opposite number, could ground the ball and Atkinson followed up to score. Wasps were 30-14 ahead going into the final quarter. The mood was buoyant, troubles temporarily forgotten.

But the clouds would soon descend. Ollie Sleightholme hit back for Saints and, with 14 minutes remaining, Jacob Umaga was sent off for taking out Skosan illegally in the air. Skosan had come down on Umaga’s ahead and the red card was shown as the Wasps player was assisted from the field while wearing an oxygen mask.

The resultant penalty try brought Saints back to within five points. Wasps extended that to eight with Willis involved in those two important turnover penalties — but they could not hold on.

Coles galloped over for his second try, Wasps failed to win the restart again and Northampton flashed down field to snatch a bonus-point win; 80 minutes of graft undone in the 81st.

“It’s a tough one,” Lee Blackett, the Wasps head coach, said. “The last few minutes was painful to watch. We are staying tight as a unit. It’s only natural, the longer it carries on, the more people will start to get worried.”