Wasps v Northampton Saints - Zurich Report

By Olney Saint
April 16 2004

I'm standing in for Statto, but who was standing in for the Saints first team? Only the usual suspects; Bruce, AB, Lordy, and a few others bothered turning up. Wasps totally overpowered and outplayed us, and it doesn't bode well for the play-offs.

Wasps spent the first 10 minutes pressurising us, but our tackling held
out,
but even at this early stage the signs were worrying. AB put in some
big
hits, ably assissted by Darren Fox and Lawrence Dallaglio was
constantly
being nailed before he could get over the advantage line. However,
stopping
him was one thing, stopping Simon Shaw was another! He made one
thunderous
run through the centres, and this seemed to set the example for his
team
mates.

Wasps took a deserved lead after 14 minutes with a penalty by Mark Van
Gisbergen, Saints then had their best spell of the half when a training
ground move resulted in Bruce making at least 50 metres. The support
came in
from Ripol and Soden, but Sharky was stopped illegally and from the
resulting penalty Shane went for a 5 metre line out. The Wasps defence
pushed Saints back though, and our best chance of scoring had gone!

Worryingly, Saints conceided turnovers time after time and were often
pushed
off the ball in both scrums and mauls, and it was from one such
occasion
that Wasps scored their first try. Their multi-phase attack ended with
Joe
Worsley out in the backs going over in the corner. The conversion was
added
and Van Gisbergen managed two more penalties, to give Wasps a half time
lead
of 16 - 0.

Saints lineout had been going well, and with Trevor Leota's throwing in
we
had had a good supply of ball with which to attack. However, it seemed
that
the Wasps backs did not have to play behind the offside line, as they
were
able to stop most of our attacks before they could develop.

Wasps started the second half on the attack, and after only 4 minutes
they
scored a try through prop Will Green, although it appeared that Fraser
Waters could have been penalised for obstruction, as to me he clearly
ran in
front of the prop. This score signaled changes in the Saints line up,
with
Wally and Robbie coming into the front row and most interestingly Matt
Dawson replacing John Leslie in the centre. A few moments later Grant
Seely
replaced Mark Soden and with our scrummage finally holding its own, we
played some better rugby, with Bruce who worryingly had been hobbling
for
most of the second half, scoring the best try of the match!

Wasps kicked another penalty and Saints were forced to throw caution to
the
wind. A greasy ball and drving defence meant that we became
increasingly
more reckless and onesuch move ended with Robbie Morris giving a one
handed
pass to Tom Voyce, who gleefully sprinted in for Wasps 3rd and final
try. We
did manage to deny Wasps a bonus point, however, this may work against
us in
the long run as we may have more chance of going to Bath and winning in
the
playoffs than returning to Wycombe.

My six Saints players of the match - Bruce Reihana
Andrew Blowers
Matt Lord
Mark Connors
Darren Fox
Mark Robinson