Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Wasps will make top four if they beat Saracens - Andy Goode

By Andy Goode
(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

    Wasps’ rise from relegation outsiders to top 4 contenders in a few short weeks epitomises just how crazy this Premiership season has been and if they beat Saracens this weekend, I’ve no doubt they’ll make it to the semi-finals.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    In no other season would simply stringing back-to-back wins together in April have taken you from sitting just eight points above the bottom team to within three points of fourth place but that is what has happened to Wasps and now they have to seize the opportunity they’ve been given.

    They have the toughest of tests against Saracens first up. Dai Young said he wanted Mark McCall to pick his strongest side and he’s got his wish. I’ve no idea why he wants to face the Premiership champions at their strongest though. As a Wasps ambassador, I was hoping for a second string to be sent to Coventry after their exertions in the Champions Cup last week.

    That’s what happened a couple of years ago when Wasps beat them 35-15 at the start of May. Even Jim Hamilton got a start that day!

    The likes of Harlequins, Bath and Northampton all have two of their last three games away from home where as Wasps have two at the Ricoh Arena. Ordinarily, that would be a major advantage but they’ve won just 4 of 14 home games in all competitions this season so it might not be the case.

    Joe Launchbury will be a massive miss for this one but most of the other big names are fit again and Lima Sopoaga is starting to get the best out of them. He had a short spell out with a hand injury and I think that’s done him the power of good.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    When you come back from an injury you quite often feel like you’ve got a new lease of life and he looks rejuvenated. He hasn’t had the benefit of the wisdom of Jimmy Gopperth outside him all season, which was always the masterplan, and it’s great to see him back on the bench.

    Sopoaga taking the ball to the line and getting his offloading game going was a huge difference at Sandy Park but the biggest reason for the victory was an immense defensive display. That defence is going to have to be just as good if not better this weekend against a team that looks like the best in Europe at the minute.

    Lima Sopoaga in action for Wasps. Photo / Lynne Cameron

    It’s a tough ask to make the play-offs but I think they’ll do it. The win at Exeter in the last round was such a statement victory and now, even though they started Round 20 in fifth place, they’re in control of their own destiny with a game at home to Quins on the final day that could decide it.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Everyone can beat everyone else in this season’s Premiership but I think the top six at the start of this round will hold their nerve and still be in those positions when the curtain comes down on the campaign on May 18th, just not in the same order.

    I’m backing Wasps to grab that final play-off berth on the final day with Quins and Northampton finishing fifth and sixth respectively and returning to the top tier of European rugby after just one season away.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Join free

    Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

    Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

    Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

    Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

    Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

    Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

    Beyond 80 | Episode 5

    Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

    Trending on RugbyPass

    Comments

    Join free and tell us what you really think!

    Sign up for free
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Latest Features

    Comments on RugbyPass

    j
    john 15 minutes ago
    Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

    But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

    13 Go to comments
    A
    Adrian 2 hours ago
    Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

    Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

    13 Go to comments
    T
    Trevor 4 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.

    21 Go to comments
    B
    Bull Shark 8 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.

    29 Go to comments
    TRENDING
    TRENDING 'It's an All Black discussion': The pair of young Hurricanes tipped for black jerseys The pair of young Hurricanes tipped for black jerseys
    Search