Wasps - halfway house

Ok, with eleven games completed - Wasps sit in sixth on equal points as Sale, same wins and losses but with a better points difference. So all to play for with Sale next up. In essence over the next eleven league games Wasps need to again to beat some of the top six teams but this time around back it up with wins against teams they should beat - that is there is a need for greater consistency.

Now the good news is the long needed performance consistency appears to be in place. It is now also possible to define Wasps through their playing style. We saw during the London Irish match added to the usual smash up from the back row some pull back passes to second wave runners, Christian Wade in particular being very effective and willing to take on this unselfish role and link well with the likes of Masi, Miller, Jacobs, Daly etc who in turn have all straightened the line well to provide the wingers options. The result has been at least 3 tries directly scored in the Irish and Gloucester games. This should not be underestimated as Wasps have very seldom scored tries through creative play over the last 3 to 4 seasons - usually from counter attack, individual brilliance or line out drive.

This second wave running option is essential to any further progress up the league. Talk of this player or that player coming in to strengthen the squad is pretty much irrelevant if the playing pattern is not clear and strong. However Wasps also need to develop much more in the contact area to compliment this extra attacking threat. All our opponents will and are targeting knocking over our big back row runners at source to prevent quick ball. Against Irish, Irish achieved this however stepped over the mark and conceded soft penalties, some fair some not. Equally against Gloucester a Haskell midfield bust followed by quick ball led to a try for Wade. Against Gloucester we saw little else and were in the end quite fortunate that Gloucester still seem unclear about their best playing combinations. Against the top sides and indeed the likes of Sale and Quins the main contenders as we stand, Wasps need to do more.

So whilst continuing with the ball carriers and second wave running patterns Wasps need to be offsetting or offloading before contact to free up the ball more quickly. The rub for Wasps will be getting the selection balance right in the back row. Although the power available through Johnson, Hughes and Haskell is very shall we say "comfort zone" it is not really helpful in terms of support play, which is required against the better teams. If Johnson were to move to hooker as reported then this move would permit Haskell to play 6 with the chance to play a 7 with better running lines and support play - Jones or Thompson.

Nevertheless even without these changes a top six finish is a realistic goal for this season. The next fixture against Sale will be difficult as they are an outstanding team and offer more threat than most. Wasps have had an exceptional start to the season, should really be 4pts further on after beating both Bath and Northampton, however with a win v Sale everything will still be on course for a top six finish. Lose and it will be a scrap to the final game of the season.

Wasps Mid Season Progress

As we approach the midway point in season 2014/15 Wasps sit 7th in the league and 3 rd in the ECC. Some head turning winning results against Bath and Northampton and impressive back to back wins against Castres in the ECC.

Progress in the ECC, assuming Castres only focus on the Top 14 and concede 5 pointers to Quins and Leinster, will depend solely on Wasps beating Quins (away) in round 5. Otherwise the home match with Leinster in round 6 will be, from Wasps perspective, be a dead rubber. Winning/Losing Bonus points may provide some mathematical hope however realistically a defeat against Quins will end this years campaign.

This leads into the League performance and as with Europe the performance to date looks varied, however we are now starting to see from Wasps a game plan emerging, playing to the same principles every week. Results, performances may vary from week to week with supporters often remarking we could have won that one and indeed this is mostly the case. But the structure each week is mostly the same. Wasps rely heavily, almost solely on the back row of Johnson, Hughes and Haskell to provide front foot ball. If these players achieve this the back line functions much better and Wasps have pace and the players to exploit opportunities and indeed often make something out of nothing.

Defence is basically solid against teams with straight line runners, we struggle defending in the wide channels, nothing or little to do with the wingers, more so the back row and narrow structure.

If the first choice back row fail to provide the go forward when the forward battle is even, they can go missing and then Wasps seem devoid of other options to open up the opposition defence other than line out drive, counter attack and individual brilliance. The game plan is far too simple and relies heavily on the back row carrying effectively. The back line approach needs to provide greater variety and contribute more wide channel go forward options with deeper second wave runners and pull back passing. Currently the structure to do this does not exist. 

This would result in getting the ball into the wide channels more often but equally would not suit the make up of the current first choice back row. Wasps need to make the next step if they are to maximise the potential within the squad and look to balance the forward and backs selection to provide go forward options across the park. We will remain a mid table team unless adjustments are made to the current game plan. Joe Launchbury does compensate for the lack of back row support in the wider channels, however even with a fit Joe Launchbury in place Wasps backs do not offer enough variety to stretch defences. In a nutshell the Wasps game plan relies on making holes in the midfield channels and for good quality teams is easy to defend.

The next game against London Irish at the Ricoh is very interesting as it offers a different challenge in terms of mind set for the first time this season. Wasps upset the apple cart in the second week of the Premiership with an outstanding unexpected win against Northampton. Very much a defensive effort, but most importantly it was in a "we are the underdog" scenario. Then we move onto Bath and here the Ricoh affect played its part. Wasps were very much underdog again but the Ricoh announcement pulled the players very closely together. Wasps play best in adversity has been a very apt description of the characterics of Wasps over several generations and the Bath game was another example. Equally in this game against Bath unexpectantly the scrum provided extra go forward to enhance the key aspect of the Wasps game plan. The London Irish game will also involve a large emotional element but this time Wasps will not be underdogs, Wasps will be hot favourites and have the burden of expection to deal with. In the world of managers playing mind games I would think London Irish have been handed game motivation on a plate, served with an expensive chilled wine and all for free. This is what Wasps need to prepare to deal with. The expectation is the Wasps pack will dominate, provide the go forward and win. However should that desire to succeed in the first game at the Ricoh become too great and London Irish are able to hold out for 20 to 30 mins, doubts and desperation may well play a part. The first quarter of this game will be very influencial and most likely determine the end result.

Wasps have assembled an outstanding squad of players which have achieved some outstanding results to date. It is only a lack of consistency of performance that places us outside the top four. Whilst certainly the Northampton game could have gone the other way, equally Saracens, Quins and Sale were games there for the taking. Consistency can only be achieved by developing the game plan as I believe the inconsistency in performance is coming from the limited, one diamensional game plan and back play. If Wasps continue to rely solely on go forward from the back row and attacking the midfield channels Wasps will remain a mid table team. Highlights here and there and low points here and there but overall a mid table, nearly team outcome. 

I would think any Wasps fan would agree the Rollercoster performances/results have been very much a familar chacteristic of Wasps for some time now. So unless developments are made to the Wasps back play attack and integrated into the overall team strategy I would think we will continue to see the performance inconsistency from week to week. Some strong performances/results, some not so strong performances/results. Nonetheless this could end with a top six finish, however with the quality now within the squad the target should really be top 4 and group qualification in the ECC as a minimum. Having seen what we have so far this season, Wasps and others, for me this is now not an unrealistic expectation. New recruits will not improve the outcome as Wasps already have a squad capable of winning throphies.