Billy Twelvetrees inspires five-try Gloucester to win over Wasps
Billy Twelvetrees scored 20 points as a superb second-half performance from Gloucester secured a 40-24 victory over Gallagher Premiership rivals Wasps at Kingsholm. Gloucester’s eight were able to dominate against a Wasps’ pack missing England internationals Joe Launchbury and Jack Willis – and were rewarded with five tries.
Jack Singleton, Matt Garvey, Joe Simpson, Jason Woodward and Twelvetrees all crossed for the Cherry and Whites, with captain Twelvetrees adding three penalties and three conversions. Paolo Odogwu scored two late tries for the visitors. Alfie Barbeary and Michael Le Bourgeois scored the others with Jimmy Gopperth kicking two conversions.
Wasps began brightly before a long punt from Gloucester scrum-half Joe Simpson secured his side a platform in the opposition 22 and from there the visitors were penalised only for Twelvetrees to miss a straightforward kick.
Minutes later, after a strong burst from centre, Mark Atkinson, Twelvetrees was presented with an even easier opportunity and this time the Gloucester skipper made no mistake with a simple penalty which was the only score of an evenly-contested first quarter.
However it was largely a disjointed affair with the game not being helped by continual disruption with injuries – Prop Ben Harris left the field permanently and there were lengthy delays for treatment to other Wasps’ forwards, Tom Cruse and Tom Willis.
Absolute try-fest for @gloucesterrugby in the second-half ?
They come up trumps over a somewhat lacklustre @WaspsRugby side who left it all a little too late …#GallagherPrem #GLOvWAS pic.twitter.com/qFCU2s8ay7
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) November 28, 2020
Despite these setbacks, Wasps took the lead when, from a lineout 10 metres from the hosts’ line, the ball went loose for Le Bourgeois to seize possession and score. Gopperth surprisingly missed the conversion attempt before a period of sustained Gloucester pressure ended with Twelvetrees kicking his second penalty before Singleton finished off a driving lineout to give the hosts a 13-5 interval lead.
Wasps lost Willis at half-time and three minutes after the restart they fell further behind to a third penalty from Twelvetrees. The visitors appeared to be struggling but they conjured up the next try. Skilful play from Thomas Young sent Josh Bassett racing away down the left flank before Barbeary forced his way over from close range – the flanker’s fifth try in seven matches.
The game continued to gain impetus with a second try in as many minutes, Gloucester responding when Garvey burst away from a maul 15 metres out. Twelvetrees missed the conversion and then a penalty after Wasps’ replacement Levi Douglas was sin-binned for repeated team infringements.
Gloucester took advantage when Lloyd Evans burst away to feed Twelvetrees, who did not have the legs to make it to the line – but Simpson was on-hand to receive the scoring pass.
With 13 minutes remaining, Woodward finished off an excellent three-quarter move to pick up the bonus point, before Twelvetrees intercepted Gopperth’s pass to race away for the fifth. Spirited Wasps controlled the remainder of the game and after Ruan Ackermann was sin-binned, replacement Odogwu scored two tries in quick succession to secure a bonus point for the visitors.
Get well soon, Matt ?#GallagherPrem #BRIvWORhttps://t.co/RCUuzIbzpO
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 28, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
I wouldn’t spend the time on Nawaqanitawase! No point in having him filling in a jersey when he’s committed to leave Union. Give the jersey to a young prospect who will be here in the future.
4 Go to commentsIt was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
4 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to comments