The Story Continues

Wasps HEC Away
By Chris Chaplin
December 1 2004

Once again the Tigers and their faithful descend on The Causeway Stadium but this time for the next round of the Heineken Cup. The fixture having the potential to effectively decide the outcome of the pool stages, so there’s even more than usual to play for.

It has been said that the outcome of recent Premiership matches cannot be taken as an indicator as to the relative form of the two teams but I wonder if that is truly the case.

Wasps have been affected by the Autumn Internationals with O’Connor, Worsley and Lewsey engaged in the latest RFU money making jamboree and they have had Abbott, King and Waters injured for some of the period, however just two weeks ago they were held to a draw by Tigers, who were even more grievously handicapped by both injury and international demands and then last weekend Wasps were defeated at Sixways, whereas just a week or so earlier Tigers had put the Warriors well and truly to the sword at the same venue.

I watched Wasps play Worcester and whether it was a consequence of tactical naivety, mismanagement or arrogance the High Wycombe side rested players and in the first half rather looked as if they thought it was just a question of whether they’d get four points or five. In the pack especially Wasps had under estimated the Premiership new boys who nobody had previously taken as being a soft touch up front.

In the first half the Wasps tight five were bested by the Warriors with Wasps’ line out gremlins barely helped by the presence of Ben Gotting as Birkett was being rested, a situation that didn’t much improve when Greening replaced Gotting at the interval.

Richards looked less than comfortable back in the number 9 shirt having been replaced at centre by the barely fit Abbott who benefited from a charge down by the pick of the Wasps’ backs, Ayoola Erinle, although Voyce made his presence felt in the second half when he eluded half a dozen Warriors’ tackles in one coruscating run after the referee played a unusual Warriors’ advantage.

Certainly Wasps came back strongly in the second half and almost stole the fixture helped by a Warriors defence that had decided to return to headless chicken mode but as it was justice was served and Warriors prevailed.

Unsurprisingly the events of the week overshadowed the visit of Saracens to Welford Road with many empty seats and boos for Chairman Peter Tom when he ventured onto the pitch at half time, the whole affair having a strangely muted feeling.

Tigers nevertheless prevailed over a Saracens side that boasted a virtually full strength turnout with a cast list that was almost a who’s who of international players and even bad mannered barracking of Andy Goode by a section of the Saracens support while the Tigers’ #10 was lining up his place kicks did not unduly deflect the fly half from his task.

So it was that Tigers finished the first half of the Premiership season clear by eight points at the top of the league above their rivals next Sunday, which even the most Tiger-phobic of opponents must surely admit is a massive achievement given the absence of almost a full team for one reason and another during the last three weeks.

When I was at The Causeway a couple of weeks ago a Wasps’ supporter asked me, in conversation, whether if Tigers finished third in the league but won the playoff competition I would consider them league champions and I had to say in all honesty that I would not. I’d cheer them for winning the playoff competition but they’d only be league champions if after nine months of competition they were top of the league.

I know that it’s an outmoded view to many and doubtless I’ll be told to “move on”, “live with it” or any of the other modern epithets trotted out in the face of a view that’s perceived as out of step with the marketing gurus that have infested my wonderful sport but I make no apology for holding it.

Now though it’s a different competition and while my natural Luddite aversion to the playoffs does, in all conscience, prevent me from personally acknowledging Wasps as league champions, rather than the winners of a knockout competition, there is no doubt or question in my mind that they are the undisputed and deservedly reigning European Champions.

So to Sunday.

Having watched, what was to all intents and purposes, a full strength Wasps’ front five against the makeshift Tigers set up of two weeks ago I really can’t see how, with Julian White and Rowntree back from international duty and George Chuter released from suspension that the Wasps’ front row will have anything other than a torrid time, particularly as Craig Dowd still doesn’t look himself.

Ben Kay, having spent most of the Autumn internationals catching up on his reading and bursting to be back in action, should have some difficulty dislodging the superb Louis Deacon as Johnno’s partner against what has been a muted Simon Shaw of late with the absence of Birkett very noticeable in the Warriors’ fixture.

With, to my one Tiger eye, the true star of the Autumn internationals, Martin Corry, back in action together with Lewis Moody, I see a real scrap in the line out with the abrasive Worsley and dynamic O’Connor also returned. Overall I think that in this set piece Tigers should also have an edge and I expect that in the tight Tigers should too gain an advantage.

In the loose O’Connor will give Neil Back a real test but Backy is hungry for a third European Cup Winners’ medal and I think that with Moody he’ll dominate the breakdown and tackle area, which was a theatre, against Australia, where I thought Worsley was, by his own high standards, disappointing although once again he put in a good defensive display as he did against the Boks a week earlier and he will be a hard nut to crack around the fringes.

On form then I will be disappointed if Tigers do not overall win the contest of the packs, not by much perhaps, but a key win nevertheless.

Dawson was rested against Worcester but he’ll be back against Tigers but then so too will Harry Ellis who had just a taste of international drama and is another Tiger itching for some real action and unless the referee’s assistant is at his best then with the benefit of a good platform from his pack Ellis could get the better of what is likely to be a feisty contest.

Andy Goode is still not back to his very best with the boot but his play with ball in hand is almost unrecognisable from the hesitant player who went to Sarries and all but had his confidence destroyed by Rod Kafer for a second time.

Alex King took the reins from his very able deputy James Brooks at Sixways and to be fair didn’t look fully match fit but while his return was marked by a defeat he’ll be back to near his best form against Tigers, his tactical kicking probably amongst the best in the English game. Goode will have to be bang on his own game against King and get plenty of protection from the marauding Wasps’ loose forwards if he is to bring his newly honed distributive talents to the fore.

Stuart Abbott also returned against the Warriors and clearly a way off his best but he too will have benefited from the outing. I expect to see him again start with the hugely impressive Erinle and their making a potential game breaking combination through the middle with Erinle’s power and Abbott’s guile.

Ollie Smith made a welcome return to the injury ward that has been Tigers’ centres’ department since Rabeni also succumbed to injury. Smith looked to be pretty much match fit when scoring a typical Ollie Smith try against Sarries and with Daryl Gibson having a real purple patch these two sets of centres could be well matched in style and ability.

Out wide Tom Varndell continued to score tries for fun against the Men in Black, notching up his fifth try in four appearances but as he’s not registered for the HEC Pool stages it could that Geordan Murphy will be on the wing partnering a revitalised Austin Healey who often shows his best form in HEC matches and Tigers will be hoping for something special from these two magicians to unlock a Wasps’ defence that is usually tighter than a duck’s………………well I’m sure you get the picture!

Wasps will be pleased to welcome back the dynamic Josh Lewsey and with Voyce he will represent a massive challenge for the Tigers’ defence, as both the Wasps’ wingers are almost without equal when it comes to threading their way through broken field positions and Neil Back will have been threatening the eyesight of his charges by repeatedly making them watch videos of these two.

Shaun Edwards will have been shocked to see the usually defensively impeccable Lewsey missing tackles against the Wallabies but I doubt those aberrations will be repeated against Tigers.

I am a great admirer of Mark van Gisbergen but he was another Wasps’ player I thought to be below par in the last two outings of the High Wycombe set up, even though he crossed the whitewash at The Causeway when Tigers were again the visitors two weeks ago. The Kiwi is too good a player not return to his usual dazzling form anytime soon and as Edd Thrower has been lately charged with kicking duties I did wonder if the metronomic full back has been fully fit.

Tigers may have to use Geordan Murphy on the wing in which case the increasingly impressive Sam Vesty could continue at full back and indeed with his strong defensive play and assured handling under the high ball he could be just the ticket for this match.

This is a pivotal game for Tigers in the HEC with victory seeing them greatly enhance their chances of progressing from their group whereas a loss for Wasps could signal the end of their European adventure for this year with tough away fixtures to come at both Biarritz and Tigers and only the relief of a visit from Calvisano to look forward to as the pool stage draws to a close.

I feel that Tigers have come through the traumatic Autumn international period the better of the two sides with eleven points out of a possible fifteen whereas Wasps have secured just six and that this reflects the relative form of the two teams.

Tigers also have their greater number of absentee internationals returning as well there being signs that their injury crisis is abating.

While it will be no cakewalk I somehow rather fancy that Tigers may just be able to take this one so I’m feeling a bit bullish and am forecasting a Tigers away win – but not by many!