posted Sep 6, 2008

It's a fantastic result for Irish. I had predicted them to suffer this season due to their injuries and not having brought in as much quality as other midtable ruvals such as 'Quins and Sarries. I might have to revise that opinion.

Anyone know how many went?

All in all, I think it can reflected on as a decent opening to the season at Twickers; two good tight games that demonstrate one of the strongest qualities of the GP (i.e. anyone can beat anyone on their day), though perhaps if the weather had played ball we would have seen more high-quality play and high-scoring games. Still, you can't have it all.

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posted Sep 6, 2008

From a Waspie who was at Twickers today:
Well done the Oirish lads - the best team won today.

I felt the Irish players flirted somewhat with the offside line, and of course Wasps could never be criticised there (ahem), but it's all about playing as close as possible to the edge of the rules and your guys did it superbly.

Hopefully, we'll both be back next May, when I hope for a somewhat more pleasing scoreline!

Great day out, BTW - I always enjoy the LDH (Sarries v Quins was a terrific game).

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posted Sep 7, 2008

iagree with you chewy i was a bit worried
before the game yesterday due to the lack of
new signings (new signings on the way -
according to the people close to the club) that
was the talk at twickers. 53.000 crowd
the players that came in played well.

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posted Sep 7, 2008

With none of the wasp player on international duty (for once) i thought we were going to struggle but it looked like the wasp players were still on holiday!

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posted Sep 7, 2008

I'm just glad it was the first game of the season. Wasps can only get better after that performance! The players are still worldclass, let's see how they are performing in April/May!

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posted Sep 7, 2008

I don't think Wasps can afford a poor start to the season. Given the number of players they'll lose to international weeks away too slow a start will have them out of contention for any trophies, even if they end on a cracking run.

Have Geech and Edwards been too mindful of there being a Lions tour at the end of the season?

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posted Sep 7, 2008

What a great start to the season for the Irish. I see no reason why we need to fear any side in the GP this year and with injured players to come back in we can only get stronger! I know it's just one win but I really think that LI will have a good year and finish top 6!

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posted Sep 7, 2008

i agree pete i thought irish played well
as toby said tonite on itv we had 9 guys
missing.hope we can keep it going mate.

ray.
exiles one and all

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posted Sep 8, 2008

Well done the Irish, xlnt start for thos pesky Wasps ..!
Did the ELVs affect Wasps more than LI? One has to bear in mind that even under the old laws the offside line for Wasps was always a good yard further forward than for any other team.
This legalising of maul pull-downs is ridiculous, and I'm not at all convinced of free-for-alls at the lineout either.
A Bath Rugby supporter

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posted Sep 8, 2008

Well Done Irish! As a leicester fan, I'm always happy to see the pests get stamped on.

After watching the first round of the GP I think the biggest worry for the coaches isn't the ELV's but the instruction to the refs to penalise anyone who goes off their feet.

This directive has to be sorted out and the ref must not guess whether a player is deliberatley tring to seal off the ball or has los his footing due to prone players and the defender baccking off. To be honest its a nightmare and I don't envy the refs one bit. The thother thing that worries me about rucking beyond the ball is what is stopping the smart players from claiming the ball is out and just nipping round the side and running off with the ball?

I think the IRB have realised just hopw import the rucking law was for getting players out of the way. They don't want to bring the law back because its a law suit waiting to happen so they are despartley trying to find a new way to produce clean ball. I don't remember Colin Meads, Dean Richards or Willie John McBride leaving a trail of perminantly crippled bodies in their wake so I feel rucking is perfectly acceptable and it was a victim of the nanny society in which we live.

I mean if boxing is a legal sport, how on earth can they give rugby all this grief?!?

okay, I'm waffled out.

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