Wasps release their 'Legend XV'
Wasps have used this period without rugby during the Covid-19 pandemic as an opportunity to compile a Legend XV as voted by fans. The team has been slowly taking shape over the past weeks before being fully revealed on social media. For one of England’s most successful clubs in the professional era, there are unsurprisingly some legends of the game in the XV.
Eleven of this team played in either of the triumphant Heineken Cup finals in 2004 and 2007, with five – Simon Shaw, Joe Worsley, Lawrence Dallaglio, Josh Lewsey and Fraser Waters – starting both (with Mark van Gisbergen starting on the bench in the 2007 final).
Only two members of the team are still playing for Wasps, Joe Launchbury and Jimmy Gopperth, while only two more are still playing rugby, Joe Simpson and Danny Cipriani, who have both moved to Gloucester over the past two years.
The Premiership’s fourth-highest all-time try scorer Christian Wade is another member of the team to still be active, but he has moved to American football as part of the Buffalo Bills squad.
Only two members of the team have not represented England, former Samoa hooker Trevor Leota and Jimmy Gopperth, who represented the Junior All Blacks.
And there we have it ladies and gentleman, your Legend XV as voted by you, the fans.
Feel like your favourite players may still be missing? Stay tuned for this afternoon's post where we will be giving fans the tools to select their own XV#ReconnectingTheNest
@VodafoneUKBiz pic.twitter.com/Vmlqr6QuB8— Wasps Rugby (@WaspsRugby) May 6, 2020
Three players started in the 2003 World Cup final for England, Phil Vickery, Dallaglio and Lewsey, with Shaw and Worsley also being part of the squad. It’s understandable that a number of players from England’s strong outfit in the 2000s are in this team, as their era of dominance roughly mirrored Wasps’.
While there are those that made a name for themselves for England, and also the British and Irish Lions, none more so that longstanding captain Dallaglio, there are some that never got the international recognition they deserved.
Outside centre Waters is one player that only managed three caps for England but was adored by Wasps supporters and was instrumental in their revolutionary blitz defence under Shaun Edwards that defined the club as they won three consecutive Premiership titles.
As far as teams go, few clubs in England could rival a team like this given that silverware Wasps have won.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
51 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
51 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
51 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
51 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
51 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
51 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
51 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments