Saracens V Wasps Preview: I Hate Wasps
By Kat
April 18 2008
I Hate Wasps. I Hate their arrogance. I hate their over-representation in the England team, their ubiquitous presence in the media1. I hate the fact they prefix their name with London, despite being in Wycombe. I hate the fact Stuart Barnes lips are drawn strangely to their collective posteriors and, IMHO LBND ranks between Linda Barker and Chris De Burgh on Bill Baileys ‘Scale of Evil’2.
However, I also hate the fact they always do so well at this stage of the season. I hate the fact they have a coaching set-up than can take a team of Celtic RWC also-rans and turn them into Grand-slammers. I hate their ability to ‘pull one out the bag’ when it matters. I hate their academy set up, which has provided some of England’s most promising talent and that despite having a fraction of Sarries disposable income I hate the fact Wasps have a burgeoning trophy cabinet.
I know; Jealousy is such an ugly quality in a rugby supporter.
Cast you mind back approximately twelve months and Saracens managed to hang onto a place in the hallowed Top 4 by their fingernails thus ensuring Wasps did not make the GP pay-offs, the stage of the season they specialise in. However the Pests season did not end in tatters as they overcame the Tigers to win the HC.
This year it is about-turn. Sarries can all-but-mathematically kiss goodbye to a place in the knock-out stage of the GP, but still have more than a fighting chance of the HC and are having put in their best European run ever. However since Christmas they have under-performed in the league by either squandering possible wins (Falcons Away) and bonus points (Leicester) or just by completely failing to turn up (Bris, Glaws).
In Contrast, Wasps have strung together a series of GP performances that has not seen them lose for 7 games, but they were knocked out the HC in the group stages. Sunday’s game is therefore vital for both teams. Wasps are looking to consolidate their place in the upper echelons of the GP, their last chance at silverware this season, while Saracens are fighting to improve the chances that Heineken Cup Rugby and the scenes of a fortnight ago are once again seen in Watford next season.
Saracens have decided to mark Cipriani’s first Premiership visit to VR by aptly wearing pink3. It is therefore inevitable pre-match build up has focused on the match-up between Jackson and England’s new Golden Boy. I bumped into Cips (and the rest of the Wasps squad) in a service station M&S while driving down to Cardiff for the EDF semis. He looked so small, fragile, physically unassuming and in desperate need of his mum that it reminded me how young Wasps premier talent actually is. This makes his role on the pitch marshalling the Wasps backs and acting as general talisman for the black and yellow supporters even more impressive. Glen Jackson is a bit of a talisman himself. When the Kiwi has a good game Sarries usually perform. When he doesn’t – well, you saw the game at Gloucester. If Jacko and his half back partner DeKock do not click on Sunday, Saracens could well be left floundering.
Injuries have affected both teams and while Sarries will welcome back both Gussie and Leonelli this week the Wasps squad have been dropping like flies. Vickery and Walder have both been ruled out for the remainder of the season, and McGeechan describes "Losing a player of Phil's calibre and experience is a major blow." The Men in Black will also hope that the extra game the Pests had to play against Sale mid-week will take its toll physically on the team.
So it’s a game Sarries must win. But can we?
That depends on whether it is the mild-mannered Dr Jekyll or the Monster Mr Hyde Saracens that take to the field on Sunday. The big, beefy front-row that has been named may suggest we see more of the latter. The naming of arguably a full strength squad from those fit, (with the obvious exception of HRHRH) shows that Gaffer is focused on the job in hand and does not have half-an-eye on next week. However I do and would like to see a moral boosting win over the team that Munster knocked out of the HC.
Blind faith tells me we can do it. I have to believe.
[1] Anyone who has read Joe Worsley’s self obsessed yawn-feast of a column in ‘The Metro’ knows this shouldn’t be allowed.
[2] Bill Bailey: Part Troll - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pmEpvOLTesECONTAINS SOUND
[3] Actually it’s in aid of the cause ‘Tackled Pink’ supporting Breast Cancer Care and raising awareness of the importance of Breast Screening. http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/12625_15407.php
SARACENS: 15 R. Haughton 14 F. Leonelli 13 K. Sorrell 12 A. Powell 11 K. Ratuvou 10 G. Jackson 9 N. de Kock. 1 N. Lloyd 2 F. Ongaro 3 C. Johnston 4 H. Vyvyan 5 T. Ryder 6 P. Gustard 7 D. Barrell 8 B. Skirving
Replacements:
16. M. Cairns 17. C. Visagie 18. I. Fullarton 19. D. Seymour ;o) 20. M. Rauluni 21. G. Ross 22. R. Penney
WASPS: 15 Josh Lewsey 14 Paul Sackey 13 Dominic Waldouck 12 Riki Flutey 11 Tom Voyce 10 Danny Cipriani 9 Eoin Reddan 1 Tom French 2 Raphael Ibanez 3 Pat Barnard 4 Simon Shaw 5 Tom Palmer 6 Joe Worsley 7 Tom Rees 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (c)
Replacements:
16 Joe Ward 17 Tim Payne/Michael Holford* 18 George Skivington 19 Dan Leo 20 Mark McMillan 21 Mark Van Gisbergen 22 James Haskell
I don't care what happens as long as we win
Hating another club I generally leave for the roundball followers. As a Watford resident I would generally like Sarries to be runners up to Wasps. In an attempt to buy trophies over the years, Sarries has had some real talent and have often under performed. Much of this season showed this may be changing. Good luck in the HEC semi but it is a tough place to be and the pink shirt looks fine and it is a good cause. My sons mother (ex wife) just had an op for Breast cancer and many in the stadium will know someone who has been affected by it.
I am looking forward to the game and seeing Fullerians U16 get their Middx/Herts Div 1 trophy
So, as per Salsa Wasp, I really do wish you all the very best against Munster next week, but hope that we can turn you over on Sunday.
Looking forward to a cracking match.
Excellent article, Kat!
To the rest of you - please don't expect the eds to write many articles - we do a shed load of stuff behind the scenes, and you'd get very bored by the same authors recurring (well me, anyway).
Is that the time? Pubs ahoy
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
I must say I did have an irrational (or to be honest a rather rational) dislike of LBND, but my good lady was introduced to him at a rugby dinner and had to overturn her prejudices and declare him a really nice bloke. She was asked if she wanted her pic taken with him and answered, "well in the absence of any Sarries players, go on then." Seemingly he took it quite well.
I love Sarries. I love their shyness. I love their under-representation in the England team due to the number of Johnny foreigners in their squad, their absence in the media. I love the fact they other supporters change their name to Sorries and despite being in Watford they haven't seen a grain of sand or a camel except on the telly. I don't love the fact Stuart Barnes lips are drawn strangely anywhere near the collective posteriors of anything, let alone a camel and, IMHO Farrel ranks between Linda Barker and Chris De Burgh on Humpty Dumty's ‘Scale of useless’
However, I also love the fact they always do so@#$%&at this stage of the season. I love the fact they have a coaching set-up that can take on any team and still underachieve so consistently. I love their ability to ‘pull one off’ when it matters [???]. I love their academy set up, which has provided some of England’s most promising talent [Farrell?] and that despite having a fraction of Wasps lack of disposable income I love the fact Wasps have a burgeoning trophy cabinet.
I know 'Sarricaism' is such an ugly quality in a rugby supporter.
Good article Kat
I will stick to Richard Hill and an empty trophy cabinet, thanks....
The facts remain he is a winner, of world cup. European trophies and premiership championships, captained his country with pride and been loyal to one professional club his whole career, instead of chasing the £ like some players at many clubs, for that he deserves respect.
salsawasp - I presume your sense of irony is even deeper that Kat's?
but Kat not "hate" surely but more likely that
old, unspoken problem - pest-envy
dixiewasp
On Sunday sitting with Fullers U16 when the first try was scored me and my son really did get it from the others and the change round was fun to watch.
Good luck in Coventry a Heinikin Cup Final is an experience
Hate them for the fact that they will win the Chamionship final again this year, despite having all their top players away fighting Englands cause in the World Cup earlier in the season, hate them because they brought a huge reality check to Vicargae Rd yesterday that none of us is going to like.
KevinTheB
www.justgiving.com/kevinbroadbent