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Wasps to learn Premiership final fate on Wednesday after four more Covid cases
Wasps will learn on Wednesday if they are able to participate in the Gallagher Premiership final after the latest round of testing revealed their outbreak of coronavirus has spread.
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Four new positives have lifted the total number diagnosed with Covid-19 to 11 in five days – seven players and four backroom staff – to place their involvement in the climax to the season against Exeter on Saturday in severe jeopardy.
The next round of testing takes place on Tuesday, with the results emerging in the early hours of the following morning, at which point Wasps will know if they are able to safely field a team.
An oversight committee including representatives from the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby will analyse the data and a decision will be made in conjunction with Public Health England.
Bristol are on standby to take their place on the strength of finishing third in the Premiership, but the Bears were routed 47-24 at the Ricoh Arena on October 10 and their presence would give the occasion a hollow feel.
A withdrawal would be a terrible blow for Wasps, who emerged from lockdown as the competition’s form team with an all-action style under new head coach Lee Blackett that has propelled them up the table.
Even if they are given the all-clear to take part in a repeat of the 2017 final, training has been cancelled since early last week in a desperate bit to halt the outbreak, causing major disruption to their preparations.
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“Wasps can confirm that four more members of the playing department have tested positive,” a club statement on Monday afternoon read.
“Those concerned are now self-isolating, as are their close contacts. After consultation with the medical leads at Premiership Rugby, the RFU and Public Health England, the club will continue not to train at this stage.
“The club’s Covid-19 contact tracing, measures and protocols, which remain rigorous, will continue to be adhered to.”
Bristol’s potential route to Twickenham has been criticised amid calls for the title to be awarded to regular-season winners Exeter, but long-standing Premiership regulations state the final determines the winners.
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All 13 clubs agreed to protocols drawn up for restart in August that if a team is unable to take part in the final due to coronavirus, the next highest ranked club is elevated into the showpiece.
It is a scenario that leaves Bristol in an uncomfortable position and director of rugby Pat Lam is acutely aware that the Bears would be profiting from the cruel misfortune of a more deserving rival.
Bristol have since Friday been celebrating winning their first piece of silverware for 37 years after beating Toulon on the Challenge Cup final, but the festivities ended when the news about Wasps filtered out on Monday.
“We absolutely believe that Wasps and Exeter should be contesting this final. They thoroughly deserve it,” said Lam, who will have to cancel his family holiday if Wasps do succumb to the virus.
“Lee has done an unbelievable job and it’s fantastic for the Premiership to see what Exeter did on Saturday in winning the Champions Cup.
“We ourselves have been put in a situation that isn’t ideal, but everything with Covid isn’t ideal, including the fact we’re waiting for the final to be played now at the end of the season we’ve had.
“We are competitors with a lot of pride. I have no doubt, 100 per cent, that it’s about flicking that switch.
“We showed last weekend that we are rugby-ready. It’s not like it’s the start of the season. We’re ready to go.
“It’s just flicking the switch from a well-deserved celebration to there’s one more game we’ve got to go for, potentially.
“We’ve started that process with boys who were just about to open some beers… and stopped. Now it’s about waiting to see what happens. We’re either going to get the thumbs-up to go on holiday or we’re in the final.”
Update from Wasps concerning COVID-19 testing…https://t.co/waCm55pD6f
— Wasps Rugby (@WaspsRugby) October 19, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
If rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
1 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
1 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
23 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
1 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
14 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
23 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
14 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
24 Go to commentsVern challenging this Blues side might be the edge they need to fulfill their potential. Convincing results from strong D and strong carries are hard to argue against.
1 Go to commentsLove seems to add a strong back field defense with speed to close the gap and tackle to his ability to attack, kick and pass (an accurate long pass). This sets him an edge over some of the other names - JRK in particular. Has to be said that Jordan and Stevenson have also been exposed defensively while Love has yet to face test match intensity. Spoilt for choice.
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