Forget Eddie Jones, Here's the Actual Best Thing About England Rugby
The real heart of the recent English rugby revival is not the national side, nor its cocky coach: it’s a club called Wasps. Scotty Stevenson explains why.
Once upon a time James Haskell called Dunedin home. In the same year he had also called Tokyo home too. The year before that it was Paris. He was about to become the first England International to play for a New Zealand franchise in Super Rugby.
It seemed Haskell was on a kind of valedictory tour; many thought his international career was all but toast, given the disastrous Rugby World Cup campaign of 2011. He told me at the time he was inspired to come to the southern city for the challenge of playing in New Zealand. I wrote a story about him. It was headlined: The Rugby Mercenary.
Haskell was all about learning. He was about to head back to England, and back to the club he grew up supporting, and the one he first played for professionally. The club was called London Wasps at the time, before it upped sticks and moved to Coventry at the end of 2014. Haskell had won a championship with them in his first season in the pros. It was the dominant club in those days, filled with big names of England Rugby – Dallaglio, Vickery, Dawson, Shaw, Lewsey to name a few.
It was a club filled with tough nuts and, if you asked opposition players and fans, a fair few show ponies too. Wasps had a swagger, a cabinet full of trophies, and a host of legends to draw the fans.
And then, for a long time, it didn’t.
Haskell wanted to change that, and after his stint with the Highlanders (they finished 9th that season) he returned to Wasps and the process of transformation began. Fast-forward a couple of years and here’s how things stand: this weekend Wasps face Saracens in the semifinal of the European Cup. Two weeks ago they edged Exeter in a thrilling quarterfinal. They have already booked a semifinal in the Aviva Premiership with two rounds to go.
More importantly, they play sensational rugby. It is brutal, it is fast, and it is supported by a spine of antipodeans who are influencing the club’s playing strategy and helping earn the results. Chief amongst them is former All Black Charles Piutau, who arrived at Wasps following the end of last year’s ITM Cup season in New Zealand and has fast become one of the best players in Europe.
He’s not alone. Haskell’s return home reinvigorated his international career. He was given license by Eddie Jones to be an out and out mongrel during this year’s Grand Slam Six Nations campaign, and in a recent interview with The Guardian he revealed how much playing alongside former Wallabies great George Smith has helped his own game.
In the fiercely parochial world of the Premiership, Haskell could have been forgiven for feeling intensely insecure about the signing of Smith. Instead, he reached out to him, asked him questions, feasted on Smith’s outstanding knowledge, and transferred that information into his own performances.
That, as much as anything else, illustrates just why Wasps have turned the corner and can once again see the hazy outline of the winner’s circle: The club has found a way to embrace the influence of the outsiders, rather than fear their presence.
George Smith, Charles and Siale Piutau, Frank Halai, Jimmy Gopperth, Brad Davies, Alapati Leiua have all contributed to the freestyling, high flying game plan – a game plan that is finally paying dividends for coach Dai Young.
And it’s a game plan Wasps will be keen to stick with as they head into the biggest game they have played in a very long time. They must surely be the sentimental favourites to beat the kick and stick pressure rugby of Saracens when they meet this weekend. Saracens may well have grown into the genuine force of the English game, but they have done so without advancing the sport, at least stylistically.
Wasps, on the other hand, have clawed their way back into contention by running free, by knowing a good thing when it lands in Coventry, and by allowing the passion to flow back through the changing room doors.
James Haskell may be a rogue (a loveable one at that) but he is an astute player – smart enough to be confident in his own abilities while recognising the talent around him. Every day’s a school day, and Wasps have learned to play again. Along the way they are teaching England Rugby a lesson of their own.
Comments on RugbyPass
I know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
2 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
2 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
24 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
24 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
24 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to comments