Yorkshire Carnegie
Preview: London Wasps vs Leeds Carnegie
By Peter Creek
January 3 2008
Leeds travels to Adams Park this weekend. Despite another defeat at the hands of Sale last Sunday there was enough in that performance to suggest that better days are ahead. The fans though might have to wait a while for another win as Wasps appear to have got back into their stride after a decidedly mediocre autumn campaign.
The last game of 2007 saw Leeds beaten at home by Sale Sharks. Far from being despondent at the final whistle the more savvy Leeds fans took great heart from a battling performance from the whole squad against a classy Sale outfit who will be touting for honours at the end of the season. Just what Leeds will be doing in May depends entirely on the team reproducing the spirit with which they attacked Sale combined with some improved kicking from hand and some more astute decision-making by the skipper during every one of the remaining games in the Guinness Premiership. The Carnegie players also are somewhat naïve when it comes to fringing and conning the referee. Sale, who are a perfectly respectable club in every way, demonstrated the art of getting away with whatever they could whenever the referee let them. That said Sale got away with very little in the set pieces where the Carnegies held their own and could have capitalised more from Lund’s fine catch of a Sale lineout in the second half when points were at a premium.
With the improvement in the Leeds lineout, due in no small part to Villi Ma’asi and Eirik Lund, the pack looks capable of holding it’s own against the lesser teams in the GP. Adam Balding showed his appetite for the conflict in an impressive home debut and in the second half Adam Hopcroft scrummaged well against the “Sheridan”. Behind the scrum Joe Bedford had one of his best games for Leeds. Vickerman and Blackett defended stoutly but still show little inventiveness going forward. The contrast between the two back divisions with the ball in hand was stark and vast. Sale moved the ball quickly and their runners received the ball at pace. The Carnegies looked pedestrian by comparison and all too often were static when taking a pass. The most effective Leeds back was once again Tom Biggs who converted two of three received passes into tries. The lesson is a simple one which the backs’ coach would do well to get across to the players - give the ball to Biggs quickly and often!
Wasps, as well as having a number of Leeds “rejects” in their squad, have a number of fairly well known players in the squad including the gifted Dan Cipriani, a twenty year old stand-off who is likely to feature for England in this year’s Six Nations. Other England favourites include Worsley, Dallaglio, Vickery, Shaw, Lewsey and Sackey. A glittering squad full of international stars playing a team of relatively unknown pros from the sticks. Is there any chance of an upset? Leeds is due some luck anytime now and anything gained on Saturday will be gratefully accepted. However many of their savvy fans are looking at the remaining fixtures after the Wasps game to see where the team might pick up points.
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