Wasps vs Bris Sunday 1300

[Banquo]

He is a ridiculous talent. Watching him rip the ball from the opposition, charge into contact, and counterruck set rucks and knock them backwards - he has stupid levels of strength and very solid all around technique. To be wrecking grown men at his age is highly impressive.

I'm genuinely not sure if he'll end up at hooker. He's so good at 6 that the temptation has to be to keep him there.

Puja

And replace Willis?

Willis has played both 7 and 8 before. He'd be more likely to play alongside Barbeary like he did today.

With young, Willis, Willis, shields, Curran i think he'd be better off at hooker. Cruse and Taylor arent old but neither are they that young with Oghre as well it would seem like a natural progression to me.

I think the situation is less "who else is in his way" and more "where will they get the best from him"? He will have to either go through Young/Shields or Cruse/Taylor/Ogre whichever way he goes and he's a good enough player to do that, but the question is whether you want him just barnstorming around the pitch or whether you want him losing energy in the scrums and focussing on being a good enough lineout thrower.

I genuinely don't know. If we can get the same loose performances from him at 2 as we do from 6 and all of his technical stuff is great as well, then I'm definitely game, but it feels like a risk getting him to take on extra responsibilities. Risk worth taking? Probably, but I can understand if they don't.

Puja

I agree with Raggs, and the others, as per previous point, he has a lot of very good experienced back rows in front of him, and would absolutely stand out as a hooker.

[Oakboy]

If Barbeary fulfils potential and has international ambitions, I'd suggest he plays at 2. He'd be at 3rd choice more or less as soon as he can get a regular club starting slot. If he then becomes an accurate lineout thrower, he could well be early competition for LCD. If Willis can't break into the 23 for England, Barbeary's back row chances must be limited.

[FKAS]

If Barbeary fulfils potential and has international ambitions, I'd suggest he plays at 2. He'd be at 3rd choice more or less as soon as he can get a regular club starting slot. If he then becomes an accurate lineout thrower, he could well be early competition for LCD. If Willis can't break into the 23 for England, Barbeary's back row chances must be limited.

Barbeary is almost exactly 10 years younger than George. Could be a natural succession. Be easier to get lots of rugby now at 6 but as you say if he wants long term international success then he might have to be more patient and work at playing hooker.

[Raggs]

There's no a league etc is there? That would be the perfect place for him to get minutes in the front row.

Hopefully we'll see him getting time there this season. One of Cruse or Taylor ends up broken fairly often.

[Scrumhead]

Blackett’s reasoning for starting him in the back row was for him to make he step up to senior rugby without the pressure of the set piece. Given how easily he’s made the transition look so far, I wouldn’t have thought there are too many concerns about whether he can cope with the physicality etc. and it doesn’t look as though he’s in the least bit nervous from a mental side.

Unless Barbeary’s throwing is really terrible, I think we could see it relatively soon. As Raggs said, one or both of Taylor and Cruse tend to be out injured on a pretty regular basis. Oghre’s darts aren’t flawless, so if they can cope with that, I’d imagine they could manage with Barbeary’s not being perfect to begin with.

[Peej]

Blackett’s reasoning for starting him in the back row was for him to make he step up to senior rugby without the pressure of the set piece. Given how easily he’s made the transition look so far, I wouldn’t have thought there are too many concerns about whether he can cope with the physicality etc. and it doesn’t look as though he’s in the least bit nervous from a mental side.

Unless Barbeary’s throwing is really terrible, I think we could see it relatively soon. As Raggs said, one or both of Taylor and Cruse tend to be out injured on a pretty regular basis. Oghre’s darts aren’t flawless, so if they can cope with that, I’d imagine they could manage with Barbeary’s not being perfect to begin with.

Too soon, SH, too soon

[Raggs]

Just watching through this now, about 30 minutes in, and whilst Wasps are playing pretty quick, Bristol are playing at a million miles an hour. Wasps defence looks a bit ragged, but I'm wondering if that's rust etc, or just Bristol playing at such a high speed.

[Beasties]

Bristol were full of energy and enthusiasm, and obv hadn't read the script which had them succumbing because they were missing so many first choice players.

[Peej]

I thought Wasps' defence in the first 20 in particular was very ropey. A lot of rustiness

[Puja]

I thought Wasps' defence in the first 20 in particular was very ropey. A lot of rustiness

The first 20 minutes was mostly Wasps leaving a gaping hole in their midfield and Bristol dropping the ball when they tried to make a simple pass to put someone through it.

Incidentally, am I the only one who's noticed Vellacott has the weirdest box-kicking technique. It's like he's kicking it over his shoulder. Feels like a charge-down opportunity waiting to happen.

Puja

[Beasties]

I thought Wasps' defence in the first 20 in particular was very ropey. A lot of rustiness

The first 20 minutes was mostly Wasps leaving a gaping hole in their midfield and Bristol dropping the ball when they tried to make a simple pass to put someone through it.

Incidentally, am I the only one who's noticed Vellacott has the weirdest box-kicking technique. It's like he's kicking it over his shoulder. Feels like a charge-down opportunity waiting to happen.

Puja

Yep, quite alarming as a Wasps fan.

[Peej]

I thought Wasps' defence in the first 20 in particular was very ropey. A lot of rustiness

The first 20 minutes was mostly Wasps leaving a gaping hole in their midfield and Bristol dropping the ball when they tried to make a simple pass to put someone through it.

Incidentally, am I the only one who's noticed Vellacott has the weirdest box-kicking technique. It's like he's kicking it over his shoulder. Feels like a charge-down opportunity waiting to happen.

Puja

Exactly - a complete disconnect between Gopperth, de Jongh, and Kibirige.

I thought Vellacott was actually pretty poor overall.

[Timbo]

Yeah, I noticed Vellacott’s kicking too. I wondered if it’s something to do with his knee injury, but not sure if that makes any sense. Either way, was strange to watch.