Tigers v Wasps Preview
By ChrisC
February 15 2011
Sing A Song of Sixpence By ChrisC A pocket full of rye, Four and twenty blackbirds Baked in a pie, When the pie was opened The birds began to sing, Wasn’t that a dainty dish to set before the king, The king was in his counting house, Counting out his money,
Call me weird, go on you know you want to, but after watching a weekend of rugby and thinking about this week’s article the words of this nursery rhyme came into my head – maybe it was too much Speckled Hen - as having looked at the programme of events I started my marathon of rugby watching with great anticipation and a good stock of light refreshments.
By Sunday evening the only bright spot was England’s performance against an Italian side who, Parisse and Castrogiovanni apart, looked beaten and to have largely given up from the moment Ashton made his first extravagant sojourn over the Italian try line, which was one of his four tries most of which had their roots in one of the best English half back pairings of recent times. OK I’m biased but Youngs and Flood were immaculate and had a more dynamic pair of centres been on parade who knows what the try count could have been.
Elsewhere in the Six Nations; Scotland and Wales competed manfully to be the worst team and produced perhaps the most awful display of test match rugby I have ever seen.
At the vaunting Aviva Stadium in Dublin the French seemed to be in thrall to Catherine Tate’s Lauren Cooper character by playing as if they couldn’t be bovvered for much of the time but in the end doing enough to shrug their way to a close victory over a poor Irish team who’s scrum once again crumbled.
This was not a dainty dish. It was mainly stringy gruel, but the organisers were still happily counting out their money.
It was no more edifying on the club front where Sale lost their discipline and the match going down to Bath at Edgeley Park and showed for all to see why they are near the bottom of the league.
The street fighters from Vicarage Road mugged a depleted and depressed Saints and finally I watched Tigers’ opponents this weekend lose at home to Gloucester, which although played in dreadful conditions, and I’ve been at Adams Park on days like that when the rain just settles in to the valley where the stadium sits and for all the world looks to be set in until June, was an awful display from the home side.
As those who are kind enough to regularly read my articles may know I try not to be negative about Tigers’ opponents but my first thought, having sat through the match, was “this is going to be a tricky piece to write”
I wasn’t at Headingly and of course the match wasn’t on TV save for the ESPN highlights so I kept an ear on proceedings by way of my laptop, poised precariously amongst the increasing pile of detritus and it sounded as if it was a performance not entirely divorced from that produced at the same time last season when again Tigers scraped home.
In the end though the old adage that the sign of a good side is one that wins when playing badly holds true and Tigers ended the weekend six points clear of Saracens, who moved in to second place in the league, and just as importantly Tigers are ten points ahead of Saints in third which is the margin required to compensate for the Saints’ two matches in hand, always assuming of course that Tigers can keep winning. Wasps are in sixth place with their siblings from The Stoop in seventh on the same points.
In normal circumstances Tigers’ next three fixtures, home to Wasps, away to Sale and then home to Saracens would give cause for cautious optimism but with the Six Nations in full swing and key players denied to some clubs, even though they’re not playing for their country, it’s a different matter.
As I’ve already alluded to Wasps were poor when they lost at home to a Gloucester side who looked the more fired up and committed and that from a club who travel as well as a drunk on a ferry in a force 9 gale.
The Wasps front row of erstwhile England loose head Tim Payne, who is vying with Doran-Jones and colleague Ben Broster for the most penalties conceded, Kiwi Joe Ward and the aforementioned Ben Broster were mugged, not for the first time, by their opponents, even though the Gloucester front row comprised second choice Nick Woods and debutante Darren Dawidiuk with only the departing Doran-Jones from what would be reckoned as a first choice starting line up and Gloucester topping the stat for the most scrums lost on their own put in.
With Martin Castrogiovanni back from Italy reunited with his beloved Tigers he will surely join with Chuter and Ayerza who will probably start on the loose head side or maybe the Argentinian powerhouse will be rotated with Stankovitch in the Tigers’ front row but in any event, on past performances and Sunday’s showing at High Wycombe, the visitors will be under pressure here as both grunt and technique were missing from their efforts against the Cherry and Whites.
In the second row Wasps deployed two real stalwart club men against Gloucester in James Cannon and Richard Birkett.
I have to say that for me Birkett is something of a favourite as he epitomises what the sport is about, not of the first water but hard working and determined. He’s overcome a series of injuries and soldiers on, doing whatever his club asks of him wherever they want him to do it.
Young James Cannon joined with Birkett in an area where Wasps, in spite of their topping the stat for line outs lost on their own ball, had the edge against a Gloucester pairing re-jigged at the last minute when Alex Brown pulled out with an injury, Will James stepping in to partner big Jim Hamilton on parade in place of another Gloucester departee; Dave Attwood. While the Wasps did their work well at the line out the bulk of Hamilton and James told at scrum time. I guess that Wasps will be hoping to see the considerable frame of Simon Shaw ambling back from Pennyhill Park to give some ballast here.
I expect ex Wasp; George Skivington, will be keen to show his erstwhile team mates what he’s learned about forward play since his arrival at Welford Road and rejoin with another find of the season Ed Slater, if he is recovered that is, as he is also on the injured list at present, otherwise I guess Steve Mafi will again be in the second row where he looks pretty impressive at line outs as well as in the loose.
I think that with their less athletic back row, Worsley and Betsen not being in the first flush of youth, the additional options for Tigers of Newby and Mafi will count here and I don’t see the visitors getting much joy from this set piece either, especially as Tigers are one of the most efficient at securing ball on their own throw.
In the loose I’m sorry to say that while the indefatigable Joe Worsley still shows commitment and supreme defence, where he’s second only to Chris Robshaw in the total tackles made in this season’s Premiership, and must be a major reason while his club tops the tackles made stat, he is now showing signs of the advancing years as does Serge Betsen who came to Wasps as a bit part player having been round the rugby block so many times that he could be in danger of being accused by the IRB of kerb crawling but with the eternally unlucky Rees again sidelined he’s getting more action than he maybe bargained for when he signed up for the job share. The ex Biarritz man is still a real pest around the breakdown though where he takes no prisoners. John Hart, another club man to his fingertips, having come through the Wasps’ academy, brings some dynamism and is an important component in the lineout as he can also play at lock.
In the Tigers’ back row Ben Woods is now recovered and if Mafi is dragooned into play lock and Jordan Crane is still on the Tigers’ stubbornly comprehensive injury list then I expect the combination of Newby, Woods and Waldrom, who are an athletic trio, to continue and give the visitors’ fringe defence something to think about as did Gloucester last weekend which was reflective of Wasps topping the stat for most ruck ball lost.
At half back and sans Youngs and Flood, who are in Six Nations purdah, I guess that Grindal and Staunton are likely to be in the frame however as Wasps will have the pick of their side last week, the excellent Simpson, and who, in spite of his team mates being further off the pace than Eric Pickles in a 100 metre sprint and with ruck ball being painfully slow, was like Super Mario. He ran, he tackled, he kicked, he harassed, he never stopped all afternoon, he was marvellous and so unfortunate to be having to stake his claim for international honours in the days of Youngs and Care. I fear that he’ll be too much for the somewhat stately Grindal and I’d be inclined to give Sam Harrison a start, if it goes wrong then Grindal will be on the bench in an Elastoplast role.
I hope against hope that the rumours about Micky Young joining are true as Tigers badly need a high quality back up at scrum half.
Staunton, again not enjoying his visit to the rain and wind hewn wilds of North Yorkshire, will probably be engaged to keep things on an even keel and may find things easier with Harrison’s prompter service than the butler like presentation of Grindal.
Dave Walder, who’s apparently off to seek fame and fortune in the Land of The Rising Sun, well fortune anyway, to be replaced by Exeter’s Ryan Davis, is a similarly Steady Eddie rather than a Dynamic Dan, with the boot also his weapon of choice, which given the propensity for his passes to go astray is probably wise, and these two could see the match become a matter of kicking for position and if that’s the case then I feel that Tigers could be the main beneficiary.
Against Gloucester the recently restored Rikki Flutey, who had very little ball, joined with the even more recent returnee from the treatment table, Dominic Waldouk. Now I understand why Wasps’ management wanted him back on the park as he’s such a fine player but I would have thought it better to give him a start from the bench and let him build some form, rather than move, for me, one of their standout players, the Aussie Ben Jacobs, to full back where he looked very ill at ease especially on a day when the conditions would have tested the most experienced #15 and he doesn’t have a full back type boot, so I just don’t get it but then I’m a Tigers’ supporter so maybe Hanks and Edwards have a cunning plan that has too much opacity for me?
As it was the Wasps centres defended well but created almost nothing, not helped by Walder seeming to want to hoof the ball aimlessly back to Gloucester at every opportunity.
Tony Allen and Manu Tuilagi will presumably continue their burgeoning and productive partnership but at Welford Road I hope we see Billy Twelvetrees get a decent bit of game time whether, at 10 or 12, as I’d like to see him with Manu Tuilagi or even at fly half opposing Walder who tops the stat for missed tackles.
The lack of decent ball finding its way to the Wasps back three meant that they saw little of the play and both Haughton and Varndell eventually left the field injured and Varndell is reported as being out of action for 6/8 weeks with an ankle injury. Haughton hobbled off under his own steam with a back injury and as the little magician; David Lemi, is also injured it could be that academy product Christian Wade will start with perhaps Waldouk on the other wing and Jacobs back at outside centre if Haughton isn’t fit.
Chris Elder is the only other specialist winger available as far as I can see, also from the Wasps’ academy, but it would be a massive call to play two academy wingers against the Tuilagis especially with them in their current mood. If things improve on the injury front and the combination is Lemi and Haughton the Wasps attack will lose nothing, for the confines of the Welford Road pitch are not ideal for Varndell’s love of the wide open spaces, where as Lemi and Haughton thrive in amongst the traffic. Much doubt then over the make up of the visitors’ back three as I write this on Tuesday.
Van Gisbergen looks likely to be restored at full back though to bring the defensive certainty that’s essential at Welford Road particularly as Alex Tuilagi is in full cry at the moment as the Leeds full back discovered on Sunday when he got run over as Alex scored another try, but in any event I can’t imagine the experiment of Jacobs wasting his prodigious talent back at #15 will be repeated.
Tigers’ back three had settled down in the absence of Geordan Murphy but this has been upset by the injury to Matt Smith and if he’s not recovered then I’d like to see Hamilton on the wing with Horacio Agulla in his international position at full back, his try saving tackle against Leeds proving his defensive credentials if proof were needed.
It’s even harder than usual to call matches in this bizarre period of the season but my best guess is that Tigers will look to be pragmatic and, in the absence of their half backs, aim to dominate up front and keep it tight to get a close fought win after all it’s points that are wanted, the dainty dish can wait until later but then I shall also be wanting custard AND ice cream.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:02:22:12:34:19 by Stephen Bath.
On the other hand, Mr Cockerill may want to remind his team they need some revenge after we turned you over in the second half at Adams Park.
It's an oddity that Staunts doesn't fare so well in the wind and rain (is Leeds in North Yorks? I always thought it was in the West Riding. Where's Yorkie?) considering his SW Irish origins. I wonder if, given the expetation of similar in Leicester this Saturday evening - though we know how forecasts change - that we might be better served if Jezz has the more prosaic but reliable Grindall inside him. Which is not an argument I had ever thought I would make. Still I take the point and agree with James I'd hope to see Harrison involved - but let's not use the promotion of Sam as a reason to malign JG - he's not the future and his limitations are apparent - more so than others - but he is a calm head and lacks nothing for work rate.. Amen on the Micky Young point by the way.
I think this weekend may be the ideal time to give 36 a good spell off the bench at 12. It would serve to protect the influential Tony Allen and also give Billy a chance to settle, on his own pitch and alonsgide Manu. All as long as the game is under control at the time.
Anyway excellent - as always - thanks.
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I would like to see him get some game time at 12 (subject to Rich's proviso re control)
Are you suggesting that Staunton's departure and Billy's promotion had nothing to do with the turn around at Wycombe?
I admit I wasn't there so can't comment - I was enjoying a glass or two of wine in a very pleasant bar atop the ancient seaward fortifications of the Sardinian city of Alghero - but it seems to me that for a team to go from 4 tries up and a game wrapped up to losing it as they did, such a change must have had some effect.
Whilst he can't be blamed for others' errors he can be questioned for his own. Or were they others' fault too?
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I'm actually a very big fan of Billy but the extreme views expressed regarding his apparent superiority to every other player in the backline do wind me up!
A question every Wasps fan is asking themselves right now! An excellent preview indeed, rather generous to us even! Looking forward to Saturday. Well, not really, as I think even predicting that we lose by 20 points could be labelled optimistic given our performances of late!
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He'd started at 12 and scored a try.
It was also the match where Wayne Barnes disallowed a try by Waldrom because while he'd got the ball against the Wasps' goal post he said it was too high.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:02:16:14:17:10 by ChrisC.
And yes Rich, Leeds is indeed in West Yorkshire. Not pretty enough for North Yorkshire!!
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Isn't Yorkshire somewhere near Scotland?
Sooner be in Yorkshire than Spain personally...
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17/20 degrees on the Costa Blanca
this time of year. Mostly sunny 
. We're looking at departing for Moraira (our town of choice)for a month or so next Winter just to get away from the post Christmas gloom and cold here don't think a month in Scotland has quite the same appeal
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I don't mind the cold (though I doo tire of the gloom about now - but that is lifting) and the days are shorter further south. And, whisper it soft, I think North Yorks is one of the most beutiful places on God's earth - notwithstanding that there isn't a God! Shame about the locals mind...
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"It’s even harder than usual to call matches in this bizarre period of the season but my best guess is that Tigers will look to be pragmatic and, in the absence of their half backs, aim to dominate up front and keep it tight to get a close fought win after all it’s points that are wanted, the dainty dish can wait until later but then I shall also be wanting custard AND ice cream".
I therefore got what I expected and am satisfied with that.
Oh and - sorry Yorkie - it's just autonomic - it's in my blood...
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Forgiven Rich. Us northerners must stick together as we undertake our missionary work amongst the masses down south!!
I hope you are doing it with YOUR OWN MONEY