Video: Cockiness downed Wasps last year admits Dai Young
Having seen his Wasps side finish third in last year’s Premiership table, Dai Young is conscious that there needs to be big improvements if the semi-finalists are to equal or better that achievement.
Young told RugbyPass, “Without beating around the bush, it wasn’t good enough last season. We conceded too many easy points really. We know we’re an attacking team and we know we want to score tries but at the end of the day, a try saved is just as good as a try scored.
“From our point of view, if we want to achieve something the defence has to improve. We believe last year, every area wasn’t where we wanted it to be, although we finished third and we lost to Saracens in the semi-final – nothing to be ashamed of there – I certainly don’t believe we played anything like we can right through the season.”
Acknowledging the areas that came in for criticism, Young explains that having reached the Premiership final in 2017, an element of complacency may have wormed its way into his players heads and that they were playing catch up ever since.
Young said, “The [Premiership] final, the year before last, subconsciously made us feel a little bit better than we were, to be quite honest with you. We came into the start of the season and lost four out of six which wasn’t the ideal start. That meant we had to have a real solid block in the middle which meant we overused players. I don’t think we rotated the squad enough throughout that middle part of the season because we were chasing our tail a little bit.”
By the start of the 2017/18 season, confidence was high but was perhaps a little misplaced. Young continues, “We didn’t feel it at the start of last season to be honest with you, but certainly we were over confident in our attack. We thought we’d always score tries, we’d always do well, but the early part of the season showed us that wasn’t the case. After four or five weeks we had to change a lot of things in attack.”
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Young has added Nottingham’s Ian Costello as his defence coach and promoted Andy Titterell to forwards coach. He explained how they are aiming to avoid the pitfalls of last season.
Young said, “We haven’t made the same mistake this season. We have tinkered with our attack to make sure we’re not as predictable as we were last season, so you learn from things like that. Set piece wise, we’ve spent a lot more time preseason that we probably did last season, on it. And defence has always been a work-on with us.”
Having dealt with rumours of player revolt over the club’s training facilities last season, RugbyPass asked Young what the latest developments are on that front. Young responded, “The management team has a group working on that. I believe they’ve identified a site for the new training facility and they’re working hard on that. What I’ve said to the players is let’s just get on with things. We’re not in a real bad place, things could be better but there’s no excuse really. There’s nothing that should hold us back on that front. I’ve got total trust in the off-field management team that they’re doing their damndest to try and get the training facility up and running as quick as possible. We know it’s not going to be this season, maybe next season, maybe the season after. All I want the players to focus on is the performances and what we can control and not look for excuses outside of that.”
As Wasps prepare to take on Worcester and Exeter Chiefs in the first two rounds of the Gallagher Premiership, Young sounds as motivated as ever to bring silverware to the club. He said, “I’m so desperate to win something for the support that we get, for Derek and the Directors and some of the players, Joe Launchbury, Elliot Daly and Joe Simpson who’ve stuck with us through thick and thin. I’ve got a real burning hunger and desire to try and get our hands on something sooner rather than later.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Good grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
1 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
3 Go to commentsWell one thing about World Cup knock out rounds and Ireland is very clear: they won’t be getting ahead of themselves in ‘27! Because making it beyond the QF is well and truly ‘IN THEIR HEADS’ now…😉
63 Go to commentsHas this guy been dope tested? Sounds like a case of “roid rage”.
1 Go to commentsI would like to see him say that to Eben face to face in a dark alley.
63 Go to commentsYep, lost in translation. There are arrogant people in Ireland, yes. As there are arrogant people in every country, but as a nation, arrogance is not a general characteristic in Ireland. There has not really had a strong representation for any global sport over the years, and hence arrogance is not endemic to Irish people in this regard. I seriously doubt that was said or meant by 12 or 13 players. If it was said, it would have been said in jest and to pay Etzebeth and the Springboks a compliment for how hard fought the game was.
63 Go to commentsOne of the few Bidwell articles I can agree with. If coaches played their players through niggles and consistently played them 80mins then you could make an argument for resting protocols - they obviously don’t and are incredibly responsible, let’s give up the resting nonsense and let the boys play.
2 Go to commentsDaniel Gallan, please for the love of all that is holy, stop writing about rugby. Or at the very least stop telling people you are South African.
21 Go to commentsThis Dr.Rassie 6-2 filth is spreading. We need to ask World Rugby to ban something
1 Go to commentsPity he couldn’t call him a liar to his face, such a brave man.
63 Go to comments“You ain’t counting to 12 or 13 straight after a game, son!” Just because you don’t doesn’t mean everyone else doesn’t “I reckon if anyone said it they would have said, ‘Hopefully, see you in the final’.” Oh, you “reckon”, do you? You weren’t there, you weren’t part of the conversation but you know what was said… Id10T
63 Go to commentsNZ has such a rich history of quality number nines, and woman beaters.
1 Go to commentsThat’s what happens when you are scared of scrums
2 Go to commentsWhats interesting now is the evolution of rugby. More and more the laws are favouring the team in possession and the ball carrier. Teams can keep the ball for longer periods more than ever before with little risk and wear down defences as long as they don’t knock it on. Set pieces are seen as hindrances and as time wasting annoyances by law makers and they are being depowered as lawmakers strive for higher ball in play time. Perhaps its only natural then that teams will take a more assertive and aggressive approach in defence. An offensive defence as you said Nick. This may force errors and turnovers and help teams to break up attacking plays while providing counterattacking prospects. Perhaps we will see more and more teams adopt the blitz in the next 4 year cycle and beyond much like Gegenpress has met Tiki Taka in football. Instead of Pep and Klopp we will have Farrell and Nienaber.
25 Go to commentsArrogant entitled prick with a huge chip on its shoulder
5 Go to commentsApparently the only ppl Scotland can beat are their spouses…thank you / good night!
6 Go to commentsSo….who is Andy Goode?
63 Go to commentsEngland had to bed in their new defensive system while challenging for the 6N. The schedule allowed them to try and focus on defense for first 3 matches and then target Ireland (the pre tournament target match). A win in France would be a bonus.
1 Go to commentsJust from watching the highlights there was plenty to like and plenty to build on. Some of these boys will be Super players soon and they will benefit from the exposure. Sounds like the coaches have made a good connection with these young men.
3 Go to commentsDont know if the Irish players said it or not, but lets all be honest with ourselves, and hopefully both the Irish and French have healed by now, the Media did jump the gun, be realistic, according to 90% of the media it was a France and Ireland final, and the media had 1 of them winning the world cup, not even mentioning the All blacks? Just remember world cups are different, Australia was not the most in form cricket tean in the last cricket world cup, but they have a nack of winning when it matters. I wont go into whether what Etzabeth is saying is true, all I am saying is that its very easy for a team to get ahead of themselves due to the media. Nothing wrong with it, the media got the springboks over confident against England and we nearly lost that one.
63 Go to comments