Retiring, not shy

By Peter Creek
May 9 2008

The Carnegies complete the fixture list with a home game against Wasps. The contrasting fortunes of the the two clubs are there for all to see. Wasps are surging up the Guinness Premiership and a five point win could see them finish second in the final table as Bath are at Gloucester. If that was not enough incentive then Wasps’ greatest ever player is putting on the black shirt for the last time. Lawrence Dallaglio joined Wasps back in 1990 and has been with them ever since. His achievements for club and country are well documented and Saturday will be an opportunity to see him in action one last time. If current form is anything to go by then "Del boy" as he was known as at Ampleforth College will be upstaged by some or all of of Wasps' fleet footed back division. Cipriani, Sackey and Lewsey are all on top form at the moment.

Leeds are also parting with a loyal player and Stuart Hooper will get a good send off  after sticking with the club when they were relegated two years ago. Other than that the Leeds faithful will have little to shout about. The club will end the season in the same position as it was two years ago, relegated and leaderless. It is a case of ashes to ashes as the club's dreams are buried whilst its DoR takes the RFU's coin and abandons his five year plan along with his wise words about loyalty and sticking together.

Fortunately the similarity ends there. The Carnegies are retaining the bulk of this season's GP squad with two additions already announced. The Academy has once again been fruitful with Greendale, Burrell and Armstrong already blooded in the GP. I expect to see others coming through next season. Whoever comes in as DoR will sort out the abysmal defence and hopefully improve the conditioning of the squad.

And so back to Saturday's match. I expect a high scoring game, not because of the fabulous weather forecast but because the home side has leaked tries all season and bonus points have been scattered at HC like confetti. Last week at the Madjedski Leeds mustered twenty points. It is quite possible that they will repeat that feat on Saturday but will not get anywhere near the Wasps total. The players will give their all, as they have done all season, but the gulf in class and the inability to eliminate simple errors from their game will see them end the day empty-handed as they have done for most of the season.

Next season the highflying Wasps are off to Europe. The Carnegies? Well we're all off to Rotherham!

Ashes to ashes: Leeds v Wasps

Discussion started by TykesRugby.co.uk (IP Logged), 09/05/2008 16:53

TykesRugby.co.uk
09/05/2008 16:53

Ashes to ashes: Leeds v Wasps

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merry
09/05/2008 17:04

pretty much sums it up,

oh well, one last hurrah for the season and to farewell players and lanny, and then look forward to winning ways again in nd1.

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dragon27
09/05/2008 17:23

I'm looking forward to see Dallaglio's last game, although he can come across as a bit holier than though, what I will most remember him for was a game at Bristol, the other Wasp players were changed, fed and waiting to get on their bus, Lawrence was still in his kit, had not yet left the pitch and was signing autographs for hundreds of kids.

Great player, great man and with a name like that probably half Welsh.

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KevinTheB
09/05/2008 17:24

I hope your last game in the Prem this season gives you hope for the future but lets us leave for home with 5 points and second place in the bag.

I hope we're not coming up ready to celebrate Lawrence's last game without knowing we have 80 minutes of hard rugby to go through first - that would be disrespectful and downright dangerous.

However, I'd expect to see Dallaglio leave the field with a few minutes to go - to allow everyone to raise the roof on the end of a fantastic career, honourably fought in the Red of the Lions, the White of England but most of all in the Black and Gold of Wasps.

There won't be a dry eye in the house. I just wish his last game had been in front of the Shed!

KevinTheB

www.justgiving.com/kevinbroadbent

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leedscboy
09/05/2008 21:41

Sad to see a great player like him go.

But its worse for us when you look at it.

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dixiewasp
10/05/2008 08:20

Had you been able to hold on to all those talented
young players/Academy players you were developing
first time round,and who have blossomed at rival GP
clubs since .......... today's relegation just wouldn't
have happened and I like to think, would have coped
with sides stuffed with off-the-shelf SH players.

best wishes,

dixiewasp

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oopnorth
11/05/2008 18:54

The Wasps off loading game in the second half was brilliant and we did well to keep the score down. Turning when taking the ball in contact and sure that a team-mate was on their shoulder.

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little stinger
12/05/2008 09:04

All credit to Leeds for taking the game to Wasps in the first half and you guys deservered the 16 - 7 lead after 30 mins. Also the second half tries you took were well worked. All the very best for next season. Will visit again when you come back up to the premiership.

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dragon27
12/05/2008 10:04

I enjoyed that game, over recent weeks our attack has been much better and when Alberto plays well so does the team, problem still remains midfield defence. Thought Alberto, Fourie and Myall played really well. I'm expecting more from Hepworth and Vickerman next year, if they can get back to some form, then Paul, Blackett, Burrell, Armstrong, Tuilagi, Greendale and others could be a real handful. We seem to have a good enough pack but maybe another second row and prop is needed, most of all we need a scrum half and fly half as a matter of urgency.

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Loosehead
12/05/2008 13:27

For me we need to sign a #3 9 & 10 these are the positions that require strenghthining first and foremost.

After that maybe another 2nd rown possible a bacrow and an outside back, after that Hooker

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oopnorth
12/05/2008 17:59

The big issue for me is defence in the middle and cover from the back row. If we have had a system this year, most of the GP teams have had no problem breaking it down. Wuss bless them kept trying to break us route 1 and failed.

That is the priority for the new coach.

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Loosehead
12/05/2008 21:53

Maybe a new Defence coach is needed. I have also noted it has been distinctly quiet on the recruitment front we announced 2 signings in as many weeks, yet when Lanny was announced as leaving there could have been some positive press on maybe a new face in granted the club did confirm some of the younger players re-signing but a new face may have further lifted the fans.

The club has a very had task now and that is to convince fans to buy season tickets for next season, the longer there is no announcement on the new coach or players then the harder it will be to persuade fans to buy them on the promise of things to come. The season is over now bar for 4 teams yet most clubs have announced who will be leaving them for next season.

Wuss have 1 or 2 handy players available Lee Best for example or Mark Tucker or another Samoan power house in Feaunati.

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