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'Joe Launchbury has just spoken about how that was one of the best wins of his Wasps career'

By PA
Joe Launchbury of Wasps is tackled by Sam Underhill (left) and Charlie Ewels. (Getty)

Wasps head coach Lee Blackett reflected on one of the club’s finest wins after they overcame huge odds to beat Gallagher Premiership play-off rivals Bath 27-23. Wasps flanker Thomas Young, full-back Lima Sopoaga, hooker Tommy Taylor and Taylor’s replacement Gabriel Oghre all departed injured during the first 34 minutes.

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It meant the Recreation Ground clash going to uncontested scrums, so stretched were Wasps’ front-row resources.

Bath, though, were found wanting as a 75th-minute penalty try saw Wasps home and lifted them back into the play-off zone.

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“Joe Launchbury (Wasps captain) has just spoken in the sheds about how that was one of the best wins of his Wasps career, and he has been here a lot longer than I have,” Blackett said.

“It’s the character, the leadership, the adversity we had to go through.

“We spoke in the lockdown break about being adaptable, and that was the most pleasing thing today, because everything possible was thrown at us.

“The way we fought back into it was outstanding. It was pure fight. It takes a lot of hard work.”

Blackett confirmed concussions for Young and Oghre, while Taylor suffered a serious-looking ankle injury and Sopoaga had hamstring issues.

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Wasps’ victory ended Bath’s unbeaten run since the Premiership restarted after lockdown.

Wasps are now one point behind third-placed Bristol with five games left, but Bath have dropped to fifth.

Fly-half Jacob Umaga and prop Tom West scored tries for Wasps, while Umaga kicked two conversions and a penalty and Sopoaga slotted a penalty.

Wing Ruaridh McConnochie and substitute hooker Jack Walker claimed Bath’s touchdowns, and fly-half Rhys Priestland kicked 13 points.

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Reflecting on the loss, Bath’s England international flanker Sam Underhill said: “It’s a disappointing result and performance.

“We just weren’t up to scratch, and against a side of that quality you can’t slip up, as they will punish you.”

Bath had scored 13 tries and claimed 14 points from a possible 15 in beating London Irish, Leicester and Northampton, but Wasps proved an insurmountable hurdle.

Bath rugby director Stuart Hooper added: “The big learning to take out of it is that you have got to be able to adapt. Credit to Wasps, they adapted better than we did.

“We didn’t react quickly enough and we didn’t adjust, and they got the win.

“I thought we had moments where we showed some of the things we had done in the previous three games, but we didn’t consistently knit that together. We coughed up a few opportunities.

“Today was an opportunity for us, but it is not terminal.

“Rugby is a game of energy, and you have got to make sure you manage that energy as well as you manage field-position.”

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Trevor 1 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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B
Bull Shark 5 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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