Wasps workout with Parma, getting ready for Gloz

A Happy Bunny
By Loose Head
October 21 2002

Wasps put out a full strength side right from the start. The hiccoughs of last week’s away game were not to be repeated. Additionally, everyone knew, with respect to Parma, the main issue with this game was how is prepared people for the next one, against Gloucester.

This was to be a full blooded workout in preparation.

Wasps turned initial pressure and control into points when after a lineout deep in the Parma 22 Wasps employed the customary catch, drive, ruck, drive to see Volls get across the line. With a penalty a few minutes later, at 8 minutes Wasps were 10-0 up, and never looked like not winning comfortably.

Of more interest to the Waspie the stands was how would individuals shape up. The back row was in a new form. This game saw the first home game for Scrivs for absolutely ages. LBND switched to his original blind-side, Volls at open-side and Scrivs at 8. There are many who would have this as the best configuration, but when he is fit again there is Worzle! Not a bad situation for a coach to be in. Scrivs is clearly delighted to be back. His fitness and strength make him commanding when coming off the back of the scrum. Volls was playing out of his skin. He tackles as good as Worzle does and he links excellently with the centres. LBND is LBND, nuff said. The two "journalists" Scrivs and Birkett, both recently back from very long lay-offs, are playing with a strength and vitality which adds weight to the argument about players getting enough rest.

Two up and coming players were in the team. Ayoola Erinle, Oogie for short, and John "Rhino" Rudd. Ooogie is in the centre and Rudd on the left wing – pinching Kenny Logan's place. Both are big, quick, powerful runners with the potential to cause opposition laundry bills to go through the roof. They both have their weaknesses though. With Rhino it's his defensive tackling and with Ooogie it's his habit of dropping the ball after having blasted through the oppo defence – messed up once the hard work is done.

Now there are those who would say that weakness in defence is not unusual for a left winger at Wasps, but that is hardly the point. Rudd is definitely an emerging talent. Bit of an injury scare part way through the first half when Rudd went off with an injured knee.

There were further tries in the first half to Stuart Abbott after a neat handling move off the back of an untidy scrum, and to Dallaglio after a pick, drive, recycle move again off the back of a scrum. All Parma had to show were a couple of missed penalties. The Wasps defence had clearly been "refocused" by the coaching staff after the lapses of last week. Half time score Wasps 22 Parma 0.

The second half was not a minute old. Lineout on halfway, pop to King at flyhalf, pop to Roiser coming in off his wing. Roiser found a route through the rest of the Parma team to score in the corner. The Wasps target of playing fast close supported running rugby continued. A quick tap from Howley and the ball was run hard through the Parma ddefence by particularly Ooogie and Kenny Logan. The speed of passing was probing the defence and the ball went out right and then across the line out left where the inevitable weakness showed up and LBND went over for a try.

The understandable if not disrupting wholesale substitution of Wasps happened. The shape kept itself together. Van Gisbergen went to full back and showed he can tackle anything as down went the Parma number 8 when on full charge.

The superior fitness of Wasps was showing. Shane Roiser called the mark, then tapped and ran. The ball went through everyone's hands probably twice as Parma were run ragged. To Parma's credit they managed to hold the ball up over the line. The ensuing scrum to Wasps had the expected outcome, this time Joe Beardshaw – only just on as a replacement – scored.

For all those nay-sayers about Logan, at 63mins and 15 secs he made a solid try saving tackle! Ok, ok, it shouldn't be news. I just thought I'd mention it.

A penalty to Wasps in the Parma half close to the end was a quick tap and pop to Shane who wove a way through one or two then a pop to the ever present and supporting Will Green – a prop on the shoulder of a winger – who went over to score.

Final score Wasps 42 Parma 0

Interesting workout. A trip to Bordeaux awaits. But before ten we have the slight matter of Gloucester paying a visit.