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Jimmy Gopperth scored a late penalty winner against his former club as Wasps edged past Newcastle with a 27-24 Gallagher Premiership win at the Coventry Building Society Arena. George McGuigan scored a hat-trick for the visitors but it proved to be in vain as Gopperth’s boot, combined with tries from Dan Robson, Joe Launchbury and Tom West, saw the hosts over the line.
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The first points of the game went the way of the visitors inside 15 minutes through a Will Haydon-Wood penalty, before a sensational run from Adam Brocklebank set the stage for the first try of the afternoon.
The prop scooped the ball off the floor around the halfway line, broke a couple of tackles and carried all the way to the five-metre line from where McGuigan finished the job, with Haydon-Wood slotting the extras.
The hosts responded instantly, Jack Willis with an impressive line-breaking run and offload to Robson, who sprinted in to touch down. Gopperth slotted the conversion but the visitors were on the board again before the break, McGuigan finishing off a rolling maul from a five-metre lineout and Haydon-Wood again adding the extras to push the lead to 17-7.
In added time at the end of the first half, the hosts got themselves back into the game as Launchbury dotted down with his outstretched arm after being held a yard short. Gopperth added the extras from in front of the posts as the lead was cut to just three heading into the break.
The second half started slowly with a penalty from Gopperth after Newcastle were penalised for being offside at a ruck bringing the scores level with just under half an hour to play. Wasps substitute Will Porter was sin-binned for deliberately pushing the ball into touch and Newcastle immediately took advantage, McGuigan completing his treble from another productive rolling maul with Haydon-Wood’s conversion pushing the lead to 24-17 with under 20 minutes to go.
The hosts responded instantly, West barrelling over from close range following a Launchbury interception and a succession of pick and goes which pushed the hosts to within a metre of the line. Gopperth’s conversion from under the posts levelled the scores once more after 65 minutes.
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As the game entered the final five minutes, a Wasps penalty – after Newcastle were penalised at the breakdown – gave them the chance to take a late lead. Despite slipping as he kicked, the effort by Gopperth sailed through the uprights to make it 27-24 to Wasps, who were then able to run the clock down and seal an impressive comeback win.
Wasps remain ninth in the table with Falcons, who take a losing bonus point back to the northeast, sitting twelfth.
Comments on RugbyPass
Pretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
3 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
3 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
3 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
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