Wasps player ratings vs Clermont - 2020/21 Champions Cup
The recent Gallagher Premiership fortunes of Wasps are an example of how things in rugby can hugely change in a short space of time. For an age, rookie head coach Lee Blackett was making things look easy, guiding his team to last October’s league final.
However, results haven’t been as kind in 2021 and they came into this Heineken Champions Cup round of 16 tie with Clermont on the back of seven defeats in their last nine league matches. Having the squad reduced to skin and bone due to player unavailability, their reputation as the league’s most penalty-ridden side had been massive contributory factor in their recent angst.
But with their injury situation starting to clear and referees aplenty visiting their training ground in recent weeks to help them brush up their act, Wasps arrived into the Easter weekend looking to positively turn the page.
A club with a proud European heritage, being twice winners of the tournament, this encounter with Clermont was their 100th match at the Ricoh since their 2014 move from Adams Park. However, there were ultimately no celebrations as Wasps were incredibly ambushed in added time, Kotaro Matsushima’s 84th minute try converted by Camille Lopez for the 27-25 result.
Three-try Wasps only had themselves to blame, their discipline letting them down when it most mattered yet again. The overall penalty count went 15-11 against them, the closing stages playing a pivotal part in that. Less than three minutes remained when they lost a lineout in the Clermont 22 and they then gave up a series of penalties and a yellow card in a car crash finish that saw them relinquish a home quarter-final against Munster or Toulouse. Here are the Wasps player ratings:
Heartbreak for Wasps as Clermont win it with the clock three minutes into the red!
Kotaro Matsushima with the cold-blooded finish, Camille Lopez nails the extras ??
What an incredible end of a great game!#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/tl0AO9oeuB
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) April 3, 2021
15. MATTEO MINOZZI – 6
It has been a troubled spring for the full-back, making himself unavailable for Italy and then losing his place in the Wasps XV. He returned last week and showed rustiness here, butchering a ninth-minute try with his sloppy grounding after going solo from halfway with a neat run and sweet bouncing kick. It was reminiscent of the score left behind by Willie le Roux in a quarter-final at Leinster a few years ago.
14. PAOLO ODOGWU – 7
A familiar face who had become a stranger in 2021. Uncapped by England during the Six Nations, it left him without any rugby for eleven weeks until he stepped off the Wasps bench last weekend. Took just five minutes here to remind everyone of his wheels, racing in unchecked from distance to score. Missed a tackle in the lead-up to the first Clermont try and was within a whisker of holding up their second over the line. A toe in touch then denied him his own second score. Less of an influence in the second half, he gave way on 72 minutes to Zach Kibirige who went on to be yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on.
13. MALAKAI FEKITOA – 6
The no-nonsense tackler revealed a softer side to himself at his club’s midweek media conference, explaining that he likes to get stuck into 500 and 1,000 piece jigsaws to occupy himself away from rugby. Started here in a mean mood, setting the tone by winning the first breakdown penalty. Continued to bring muscle to the contest but wasn’t a standout.
12. MICHAEL LE BOURGEOIS – 7
Made the break off first phase lineout ball on halfway to usher Odogwu in for his fifth-minute score. Threw the intercept, though, on the Clermont 22 that gave the visitors possession to counter for Sebastien Bezy’s twelfth-minute try. Also gave away a needless penalty when lying over Josh Bassett metres short of the line on 28 minutes. Pulled off a try-saving intercept on 64 but was replaced on 76 by Jimmy Gopperth who conceded the crucial penalty that gave Clermont the easy out from their own 22.
11. JOSH BASSETT – 7
The victim of an unsavoury eye incident at Newcastle 15 days ago, he had a quiet start here but then announced himself with a thunderous bang, stepping in for an exquisite 24th-minute try. Won a breakdown penalty twelve minutes later that then nearly had Odogwu in for his second score. It was his chase of a restart kick that also won the penalty pivotal that led to Wasps’ third try.
10. JACOB UMAGA – 6
A first-ever Champions Cup start for the 22-year-old and nerves were evident. Looked to use the boot tactically early on but came unstuck with a poor restart kick that was run back in for Clermont’s second try, a score where he missed the tackle as Peni Ravai dashed for the line. It didn’t overly ruffle him. He finished the opening half four from four off the tee. Missed another tackle on Ravai early in the second and a missed touchline conversion ultimately proved costly.
9. DAN ROBSON – 7
Like Odogwu, he missed recent club months due to an England call-up. Produced an array of varied passing. A forward pass to Tommy Taylor scrubbed out one try but was on point a minute later to give Bassett an assist. Important vocally in keeping the potent Wasps maul going forward.
1. BEN HARRIS – 7
Played the entire match. Gave up a first-half penalty for not rolling away and there was a no release infringement early in the second. Demonstrated a great engine, though. Came up with the turnover off a five-metre Clermont lineout that went loose and then scored on 55 minutes with a precise pick and go.
With 190 penalties conceded in this season's Premiership, the worst count in the league, pressure is mounting at Wasps after seven losses in their last nine games #WASvASM #HeinekenChampionsCuphttps://t.co/7yD0sTWzg3
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 3, 2021
2. TOMMY TAYLOR – 8
Had the lineout singing. A forward pass scrubbed out a try on 23 minutes after he looped around following a throw to take an inside pop from Robson. The pass was perfect, though, in the other direction a minute later, Taylor finding Robson who gave the assist to Barrett. The Sale signing for next season continued to be excellent off the back of the maul and with Wasps losing a crucial lineout on 77 minutes, the question must be asked why he was subbed on 63 rather than kept in situ for the entire match as happened with the two starting props.
3. KIERAN BROOKES – 7
Early concern as attacking five-metre scrum went backwards in opening minutes and a try chance was lost. A sloppy pass also ruined an attack on 32, but he came into it much better after that. His scrum penalty win allowed Wasps to go 20-14 ahead at the break and he looked to have clinched it for his team with another scrum penalty late on after set-piece restarts chewed up much of the closing ten minutes of normal time.
4. JOE LAUNCHBURY – 8
Another of the injury club who had returned to the fold in recent weeks. He was a rock throughout save for offside at a maul that gave Clermont their shot for 20-17. He produced a massive tackle on 67 minutes that stopped an attack for a try and left the visitors taking a shot for 25-20 after someone else had infringed.
5. WILL ROWLANDS – 7
Entering the final few months of his time with the club before his move to Dragons, he started with the lineout catch that ignited the first try and another take set in the train their second score. Continued to mostly have positive involvements but gave up a breakdown penalty on 62 minutes.
6. JAMES GASKELL – 8
The one change to the starting pack this weekend after the league loss at home to Sale, he finished as his team’s highest tackler with 19. Boundless energy.
7. THOMAS YOUNG – 7
The poacher picked some good moments to be a nuisance. Came up with the loose ball that resulted in a penalty for 17-14 just before the break and it was his intervention that that forced the infringement that put Wasps in at the corner for the throw for their third try. Conceded a side entry penalty on 65 minutes, though, just before he exited to be replaced by Tom Willis.
8. BRAD SHIELDS – 7
Switched to No8 from blindside due to young Alfie Barbeary getting ruled out with injury, he charged down Lopez to force an early five-metre scrum. Fuelled the fire in the Wasps pack but was also penalised too often. The two most frustrating penalties were where he found himself isolated on the ground after carrying.
Latest update from Willis seven weeks after his terrible crocodile roll injury at Twickenham with England #SixNations #WASvASM
https://t.co/gUVdaYhcSH— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 3, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Some dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
1 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
7 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
43 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
7 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
7 Go to commentsPretty 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.
7 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
7 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.
7 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 comments