Wayward Wasps Can't Complain
Blackett-Thoughtful
By Buzz
December 6 2020
Too many missing payers and disruptions through injury are reasonable excuses for a 27-17 home defeat by a Falcons side which shows that organisation, and team spirit, can go a long way to securing Premiership points. It ain't pretty, but it's proving effective for the Geordies, so far.
We were missing England trio Jack Willis, Dan Robson and Joe Launchbury, together with Will Rowlands who was with Wales.
Then just before kick off we lost Tom Willis with a hasty call up on the bench for Josh Caulfield. He will have been surprised to be on the pitch after one minute, together with Tim Cardall, as replacements when both Douglas and James Gaskell both went off after a clash of heads. Fortunately, only temporary absences.
Falcons went ahead through Toby Flood, yes he's still around and still kicking, then Falcons got the game's first try when winger Adam Radwan was sent in at the corner.
Sam Wolstenholme's cross-kick to the right flank then found found Odogwu who swapped passes with Zach Kibirig to sprint clear.
Unfortunately, it was Falcons who extended their lead when Fuser went over from close range.
The turning point came, though, when Stevenson intercepted Lima Sopoaga's pass just after the break to race clear. That was followed by a bit of back luck for skipper Thomas Young who dropped the ball when he had a clear run at the line.
We did finish strongly thanks to tries by West and Douglas - sadly they were only consolations.
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Previously we had a full, fit squad. The games came thick and fast so they had short, focused sessions where everyone knew what they were doing and confidence to do it under pressure thereby upping the intensity in games.
Now we have disrupted sessions with people injured or away and coming back in with no training time because we don't have enough cover.
Jason Ryles, the England skills coach, is so right about passing making a difference. Players need to hone their skills by practicing together so they execute precisely under pressure. We have not had that time so everything appears forced, laboured and inaccurate. When we do get better preparation time that will return and confidence will grow from that.
We’ve been pretty much off our game since the restart to be fair, and if our next three league games play out as form would suggest - Sale away, Chiefs home and Bath away - we could find ourselves in a worse position than we were after six games last season and 15-20 points behind Sale and Chiefs.
I don’t expect us to repeat last season’s heroics, but the thing I was most pleased about was that I felt we were back to being a side that was always in with a chance of winning whoever we were playing. At the moment I’m feeling a bit deja vu - like we’ve gone back a couple of years and can’t see where our next points are coming. I know (I hope) things will improve but luck seems to be against us at the moment.
Quote:Mellie
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Jason Ryles, the England skills coach, is so right about passing making a difference. .....
Many years ago I saw an interview with Brian O'Driscoll and when asked what the seasons target was for Leinster, he said it was to be the best passing team in Europe. At the time I thought that surely at that level, all professional players should be able to pass - over the years, I have thought how right he was and its what all our clubs should aspire to. I am a Warriors fan and we have butchered at least 3 tries a game in the first 3 games this season because we couldn't pass/hold onto a pass.
Good luck to you this season and hopefully Ryan Mills will be back playing soon for you