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.
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.
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.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar