Champions Cup Pool 5: Bath v Wasps, 19 December

PREVIEW: Young wants smarter Wasps

As ever, the Wasps coach Dai Young was brutally honest about his side after their last-gasp Champions Cup defeat at home to Bath.

No sooner had George Ford's 86th minute touchline conversion bisected the posts to claim a 25-23 victory that ended Wasps' run of victories in Pool 5 than Young was admitting his team had to play smarter rugby.

"We're not here to entertain, we're here to win games - we have to be smarter. We have to realise that when you're not getting much penetration or much joy, you've got to play field position as well.

"We were nowhere near clinical enough and Bath were much more clinical - they came into our 22 twice in the first-half and scored twice. We weren't quite as good as everyone was saying we were after the Toulon win."

After a poor start to their Aviva Premiership campaign, Bath's victory at The Ricoh Arena could well be the confidence boost they needed to kick on. Their home win over Leinster was tight enough, but a 19-16 triumph set them on their way after the false start in round one when their trip to Toulon was postponed.

With their three current England back line stars, Ford, Jonathan Joseph and Anthony Watson, all contributing to the victory over Wasps, head coach Mike Ford can rightly look forward to the return fixture. And if his son, George, can keep his cool again then anything might be possible.

"You relish those situations really as a goakicker," said Ford about his winning conversion last weekend. "You are in your own little bubble and not really thinking too much about the outcome.

"I was just thinking about the process. You know it's a kick to win the game - you understand that - but you just think of the little things you have practiced a thousand times in training and focus on getting a good strike."

His strike on Sunday couldn't have been any better and kept his side very much in the hunt in the 'Pool of Death'. If he can put the boot into Wasps again in round four then Bath will be on top of the table.

Match Facts
- Bath Rugby have now won six of their last seven Champions Cup fixtures and have won each of their last three at home.
- This will be the first time in the Champions Cup that Bath Rugby will host a fellow English side; they have however won five out of five Challenge Cup matches when hosting English teams.
- Wasps have won three of their last four matches away from home in the Champions Cup, by a margin of 15+ points on each occasion.
- Matt Mullan has made more tackles (36) without missing one than any other player in this season's Champions Cup.

doctor_grey wrote:...
On the other hand Bath don't seem at the same level; their pack is not very good.  

toml wrote:I have watched Wasps a few times in the last few weeks and they look really good. The play energetic heads up rugby. Their 8 has been hammering through everyone, their scrum powerful, the hooker is tidy around the park and they have a few really exciting backs particularly Piatau.
Its the most I have enjoyed watching an English team in a long time.

toml wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:...
On the other hand Bath don't seem at the same level; their pack is not very good.  

Don't say that... they'll just go and buy a new one

LondonTiger wrote:what is it that DoRs like Young, MOC and Deano see that the rest of us do not. Surely Gopperth is only the 3rd best 10 at Wasps?

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Deano didn't bring Gopperth to Falcons.

doctor_grey wrote:I think Owen Farrell was watching this match with utter glee.  

formerly known as Sam wrote:
Mikey, Davies is the anchor of the Wasps scrum at the minute. Can't see them sending him back to Wales.

toml wrote:I have watched Wasps a few times in the last few weeks and they look really good. The play energetic heads up rugby. Their 8 has been hammering through everyone, their scrum powerful, the hooker is tidy around the park and they have a few really exciting backs particularly Piatau.
Its the most I have enjoyed watching an English team in a long time.

mikey_dragon wrote:There's a lot of deserved praise for Wasps lately, but are they also that consistent? They lost at home to Exeter, and then to Bath just last week. It seems strange that a team who previously battered both Leinster and Toulon could do that. Also, is there any chance of you releasing Bradley Davies? The welsh teams are running low on quality lock forwards...

formerly known as Sam wrote:I'm not sure Ford is that far out of form. The Bath back line is build around front foot ball and he's not getting any. If you're getting crap ball off the nine with no easy crash ball to get you over the gain line and no alternative tactical kicker, you're an easy target at ten and there's a lot of pressure on your shoulders.

For England Cips has looked good in an average team, Myler is in and out of the Saints team and Burns is about to make his first start of the season following illness and injury. Farrell might not need Daddy's help getting a start.

Mikey, Davies is the anchor of the Wasps scrum at the minute. Can't see them sending him back to Wales.

Hood83 wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:There's a lot of deserved praise for Wasps lately, but are they also that consistent? They lost at home to Exeter, and then to Bath just last week. It seems strange that a team who previously battered both Leinster and Toulon could do that. Also, is there any chance of you releasing Bradley Davies? The welsh teams are running low on quality lock forwards...

I think it's a continuing problem, but I wonder if that's more about the lack of depth of the squad. Not sure what game it was but they rested Hughes and Haskell and their pack didn't look half as dangerous. Perhaps the inconsistency comes from this? I think people like Thompson are quite a step down.