By wombles222
September 5 2018
Round one is done and dusted, and what have we learnt so far this season? Well the tough assignment at Sixways definitely lived up to its billing! Worcester are most people’s favourites for the drop to the Championship, but no team coached by Alan Solomon’s are going to simply hang up their gum shields and walk quietly into the night, and so it proved. They were passionate, tenacious and powerful, we were simply hanging on before the team led by the indefatigable Launchbury and guided by the young and developing Searle established our game plan, with the bench changing the momentum to squeak, and I do mean squeak the win. A slight miscalculation by Dougie Weir when executing his attempted match winning drop goal separating us from the stolen 4 point haul, when to be fair a 1 point losing bonus point would have been fair reward. Yet perspective is needed and a larger game is afoot, with the narrative being that all teams carry the ghosts of poor matches past hidden in their closets, however those that win titles have a little sign hanging above these spectres, with a simple ‘W’ etched on its surface, not all points gathered are deserved, some are stolen with the level of audacity that an MP enjoys when submitting their expense accounts. But let us make no bones about it, all are essential if you want to lift a trophy above your head come seasons end.
Now a new challenge lies ahead, we return to the Wasps nest for our opening home game of the 2018/2019 season, opening our doors and inviting in the hoards from the west country, who will arrive headwear adorned, tomahawks risen in preparation of battle and throats ready to roar on their charges towards another premiership final. This is no flight of fancy, Exeter are a force in the premiership with 1 title already secured, and frustration writ large across their collective psyche after their defeat and loss of their crown to the wolf pack at HQ only a few months previously. Whatever your individual thoughts are regarding Exeter’s appropriation of the Native American culture, which in itself has inspired discussion these last 2 years, what you cannot ignore is that since the near 20 year history of being termed the ‘Exeter Chiefs’ this is a club that has carved its own identity, has enriched the premiership no end with its players, coaches, backroom staff and support, and has one of the most respected Directors of Rugby in the modern game with Rob Baxter. They proudly have a 60% win ratio in all of their premiership games winning 109 of their 183 arm wrestles to date. This is an impressive return from the only profit making club in the premiership, and for us Waspies the reading becomes that much more unpalatable, showing a record harder to swallow than a Brussel sprout on Christmas day, with only a paltry 5 wins for and 12 losses against since the Chiefs entered the top table.
So what conclusion can we draw from such damming stat and history to work against? I am not going to sugar coat the next part, as it would be like trying to soften a blow from Frank Bruno by placing a pillow in front of your face, we are heavy underdogs this week. Chiefs have the luxury of a settled squad and style, yes, they are always perceived as more than the sum of their parts, however when those parts include Simmonds, Cowan-Dickie, Whitten, Steenson, Cordero, Slade, Kevisic, White, Hepburn, Yeandle and Armand to name but a few that is one strong and impressive set of cogs powering the Exeter engine! We cannot deny that we have quality throughout, with Wade, Daly, Robson, Launchbury, Carr, Johnson, Hughes, the impressive and rapidly improving Cruise, Zahvhania, Brookes and Taylor, coupled with the chance of Sopoanga and Brad Shields making their debuts. However, and this is the rub, as talented as they are we have too many variables, to little time together as a unit and a lot of collective coherence to nurture. There is no doubt about it, as we develop we can once again this year be title contenders, but at this moment where do you place your money? Is it Exeter with the power of a Dodge Challenger and reliability of a Volkswagon or Audi, or ourselves with the speed and styling of a Aston Martin, yet with the unknown element akin to Vettel in charge of a F1 Ferrari? What I would give for some Vorsprung durch Technik!
One thing is for certain however, we will not win anything by giving them possession! Baxter has already stated that his is a team that demands 75% possession as a minimum. They love the contact, the phase after phase after phase. They understand the need to win the inches more than most other teams, and by George they are good at it! They will pummel and pulverise the defensive line until submission is gained and dominance achieved either through tries scored, penalties won or points kicked, and they will go for the full 80. Do not believe they will fall away as they do prove the old rugby adage that defence is harder then attack - 66% of possession, 95% of rucks won with 216 total passes and 180 runs, whilst only kicking 17 times and giving up a paltry 8 penalties during their demolition of Leicester last week is damning evidence of what is coming our way. Remember last seasons opening gambit at Sandy Park? Possession gained, 20+ phases attacking our gain line and a converted try achieved. Give them possession and give up hard earnt ball and they will win, it really is that simple. This is not a time to circle the Wagons, this is a time to knock those flimsy fabric covered wild western transports over and come out with rifles blazing. We must get and keep possession, we must fire the shots and ask the questions, if we wait for them to make the first foray then another ghost will be placed in our playing closet, with its sign simply saying ‘L’.
But to those that may find themselves dispirited with this report, fret not, for there is a light in the darkness, and one that could rapidly become a blazingly positive inferno if allowed to thrive, and that is we do have a team to win, and we have a DOR that can guide them there! In Dai we trust, and if anyone can lead us to the promised land of titles and celebration it is the broad-shouldered Welshman who enjoys laying down rugby lessons to his charges whether he is on the training paddock or in the kitchen! And let us not forget, the Ricoh is our manor, our ever-growing family enriched with never-ending support and unrivalled passion for those that wear the black and gold! United we can achieve anything. So, let hope abound and excitement grow unchecked as we traverse our working weeks, and when Saturday comes let everyone and all those Chiefs know……
Chris
Once a Wasp ALWAYS a Wasp
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