London Wasps 13-38 Harlequins

A comprehensive Harlequin defeat of Wasps by 13 – 38, with five tries to two scored, ought to have succeeded in wiping the self-satisfied smirk off Laurence Dallaglio’s face and left the Wasps management and players with the feeling of having been swallowed in a desert sandstorm.

I continue to remain mystified by the imagined benefits of this LV= Cup match, itself a second grade fixture, being played on a temporary pitch in a temporary stadium in the Persian Gulf.  Only a substantial cash benefit coupled to imaginary uplift in status must have been the cause of persuading Wasps that this was worth their while.  Harlequins, too, must have seen financial benefits, especially since their sponsors are the sponsors of the Cup and Etihad, the airline of Abu Dhabi. I remain unimpressed by and unbelieving of the reasons given by Wasps, their owner and executives for this circus. I hope it is not the thin end of the wedge.

.I must confess, too, that I did not go to Abu Dhabi.  This website cannot afford to send its reporters to far flung desert destinations, even if this reporter wished to travel. So with the benefit of Sky Sports, but without the benefit of the opinions of their ubiquitous commentators who can, fortunately, be turned off,  I settled down to watch  the game and to formulate my thought for this report.

A first minute penalty allowed Wasps to open the scoring. Quins’ response was to attack but an injury to Lambert led to a long delay until he was stretchered off and Andress replaced him four minutes into the game.

After the stoppage, Quins attacked again, moving the ball crisply and retaining possession in numerous phases.  They from a ruck near the touchline in the Wasps’ twenty-two Karl Dickson broke suddenly round the blind side and cutting in past two defenders crossed for the first try. Evans duly added the conversion and Quins had a lead which they never relinquished.

Both sides were guilty of unforced errors with knock-ons and poor passing producing frequent stoppages. Wasps had another penalty opportunity, but Atkinson’s kick adjudged by the video official to have missed. Then Quins stole a lineout and in the attack that followed gained a penalty which Evans put into touch inside the Wasps’ twenty-two.  From the lineout that followed a series of forward drives, led first by Chris York who was stopped just short of the line, increased pressure on the defence.  When the ball was eventually moved sharply right George Lowe cut through to cross the line with a defender riding on his back.  Evans added the conversion and after nineteen minutes Quins led 3 – 14.

Wasps struck back quite rapidly when Varndell evaded two tacklers to touch down in the corner, but Atkinson missed the conversion attempt.  Another penalty allowed Nick Evans to increase the lead to 8 – 17.  The Quins defence was excellent and the Wasps’ attack error-strewn and fallible.

Then a penalty allowed Evans to find an excellent touch for an attacking lineout and from the catch and drive which followed Ceri Jones was driven over to score aided by the power of York and Stevenson.  Evans duly added the extras and at half time Quins led 8 – 24.

A couple of minutes into the second half Evans produced a long kick into space behind the Wasps’ defence and chased it at speed in a race with the Wasps’ fly-half, Atkinson.  The latter collected the ball but was forced over his try-line where, in an attempt to offload to a colleague, he produced a forward pass and Quins had a five-metre scrum.  Dickson went off the base of the scrum at speed for his second try and again Evans added the extras. That score gave Quins the bonus point which ensured they regained the top spot in their pool.

On now came the Wasps’ cavalry in the shape of Walder, Betsen and Wade.  It was Wade who nearly scored as he scorched down the left wing, but determined tackling by Dickson did just enough for the video official to rule that his bottom had crossed the touchline before he touched down the ball.

With the game effectively won, Quins too brought on replacements. Clegg replaced Evans, Cairns replaced Gray and Jordan Turner-Hall left the field.  Wasps now were trying to force the game and run from everywhere. Quins held then at bay save for one lapse when a number of bodies crossed the try-line and the television official awarded a try to Launchberry.  Walder missed with his conversion attempt.

Quins continued to hold the Wasps at bay and with two minutes remaining a fine kick from Tom Williams into space behind the Wasps’ defence found Sam Smith at speed gathering the lucky bounce to cross for the fifth try.  Clegg converted and the final score was 13 – 38.

There were some excellent Quins’ performances notably from Dickson, Lowe and York and most impressively from Fa’asavalu whose man of the match award was fully justified.