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Jimmy Gopperth saves the day as Wasps leave it late

By PA
(Photo by PA)

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.

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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.

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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.

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Trevor 2 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 6 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of 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.

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