Academy Props Combine for Wasps Victory

Bristol came out with a fighting spirit that they didn't have at the beginning of the season, and will now almost certainly cost them their top flight place. If they had had a decent fly-half, rather than the slightly slimmer Andy Foode clone they had out there, and if they had capitalised on any of Fatiolafa's breaks we would have been on the end of a very embarrassing defeat.

I arrived at the game just in time for kick off (the 2.54 train from Marylebone seeming to travel to High Wycombe at walking pace) and then proceeded to spend the entire first half willing our number three to turn his back to me, so I could see who the hell he was! I spent until about the 50^th minute convinced it was Nick Porter, until I got a clear view of him.

Anyway, Wasps started the game in dominant fashion. For ten minutes or so we were camped on Bristol's line, but could not get through and had to take the 3 points on offer as a try would not come. Then it all started to go downhill - Fatiolafa started to rampage forward, knocking Cips back at will, Tom Voyce picked up where he left off against London Irish and waved Lee Robinson through for a try in the corner and we were staring down the barrel of a 12-6 half time deficit. Cipriani made it 12-9 just before the break but that didn't mask the fact we'd been utterly dreadful for the last 30 minutes. Our midfield was laboured and unimaginative, there was no direction from fly-half at all, and unless the forwards took the ball on, we seemed to knock on or drop the ball every time the backs touched it. Fair play to Bristol though, they played like a team fighting for survival and could have been much further ahead at the break.

At half time Walder came on for Cipriani (injury? argument? the fact he was awful in the first half?) and our attack did improve with the better service. Unfortunately, Dave had left his touch finding boots in the changing rooms and every time he put boot to ball it came off badly (run it Dave – it's what you're good at!). We did however, score two tries in the second half, inspired by Bob Baker, and Charlie Beech, the academy props. The first was a simple try in the corner for Lachlan, with the killer pass (almost Charlie Hodgson-esque I thought) from the side-stepping Bob Baker. The second arrived after good work by Dan Leo, allowed Charlie Beech to hurl himself over the line. Although Bristol scored a great try at the death through the ever dangerous Lee Robinson, making for a very nervy finish, Wasps held on for a slim victory.

I though Bristol played very well for a team where they are in the table. They scrapped and fought for the full 80 and never gave up. Wasps were poor in comparison, but perhaps our greater experience shone through in the end.

A couple of points about the game and for the future:

1. Tom Voyce has been a great servant for the club, but with Riki and Sackey to return, he must surely find himself out of the team now.

2. It would appear Michael Holford's days are numbered. His contract is up at the end of the season and he cannot get in the team ahead of Baker and Beech. With Porter and Lindsay around as well, I cannot see Michael being here next season.

3. Why did Baker start? He had a good game, but I found it odd that Beech started against Gloucester yet Baker leapfrogged him for Bristol. Nick Porter to start against Saracens?

4. Simpson and Walder please.

    

1 – Tim Payne 6/10 – Rumbled about in the loose to good effect and kept his side of the scrum up.

2 – Rob Webber 8/10 – Made huge yards in the loose, and tackled his heart out. Loves a scuffle and didn't disappoint, putting Perry on his backside to my great amusement. My MOTM.

3 – Bob Baker 6/10 – A surprising pick from Geech but impressed on his first ever appearance. Under pressure on a few scrums but did great work to set up Lachlan's try. Hopefully more to come.

4 – Richard Birkett 6/10 – Tackled everything, and nicked a few line outs. 200^th appearance.

5 – George Skivington 6/10 – Did good work in the loose and a safe pair of hands at the line out.

6 – Serge Betsen © 7/10 – Did good work defensively and made a few surging runs. Tired as the game went on.

7 – Tom Rees 7/10 – Another good game. Tackled, ran, and turned over ball. What more do you want from an openside?

8 – John Hart 5/10 – Went off too early to make an impact.

9 – Eoin Reddan 5/10 – Man of the match? He had his moments, but his service can be dreadfully slow at times.

10 – Danny Cipriani 4/10 – Not a good performance. Touch finding was dreadful, and seems to be running up blind alleys. Was targeted by Fatiolofa as the weak spot in our defence. When will someone tell him the little inside pass isn't working? He looks like he needs some time out, I always believed he was rushed back from injury too quickly, and he looks in desperate need of a long pre-season to get fully fit and up to speed.

11 – Tom Voyce 2/10 – Run about like a headless chicken, and missed a very easy tackle. Outpaced by Robinson for his second try. Poor yet again.

12 – Josh Lewsey 5/10 – Was defensively solid but is an outside centre not an inside centre – just doesn't have the creativity to play 12.

13 – Dominic Waldouck 5/10 – Seems to be becoming a crash ball centre over the last few weeks whilst playing with Lewsey. Good work in patches – too many mistakes in others.

14 – Lachlan Mitchell 6/10 – Scored a good try and could have had a second but didn't have anywhere near the gas to get past Lemi.

15 – Mark van Gisbergen 7/10 – Would have had 8/10 if he hadn't messed alongside Voyce on taking down Robinson for his first try. The counter attacking ability is nearly back to his best. Brilliant to see his run with confidence again.

16 – Joe Ward (for Webber, 8-14) 5/10 – Not much time to make an impact.

17 – Charlie Beech (for Baker, 70) 7/10 – Same as Baker, under pressure in the scrums but scored our winning try, his second of the season.

18 – Marty Veale

19 – Dan Leo (for Hart, 19) 8/10 – Made a real impact breaking off the back of the scrums from the no.8 position. Was good to see him doing his usual one handed ball carrying technique without knocking it on. Nice offload for Beech's try.

20 – Mark Robinson

21 – Dave Walder (for Cipriani, 40) 5/10 – Our attacking play brightened up considerably with him on the pitch. Quick, flat service to the backline. Kicking was dodgy which was odd for him.

22 – Rob Hoadley (for Walder, 75) 6/10 – Looked more likely to break through the defence than anyone else in his short cameo. Time for a start?

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