Lyon-v-Wasps

[fivepointer]

Lyon: Arnold; Tuisova, Barassi, Ngatai, Niniashvili; Berdeu, Couilloud; S Taofifenua, Marchand, Bamba, Kpoku, R Taofifenua, Cretin, Saginadze, Sobela (capt).

Replacements: Charcosset, Rey, Kodela, Mayanavanua, Goujon, Doussain, Lambey, Mignot.

Wasps: Umaga; Hougaard, Fekitoa, Gopperth, Bassett; Atkinson, Robson; West, Oghre, Alo, Launchbury (capt), Stooke, Shields, J Willis, Barbeary.

Replacements: Frost, Harris, Millar-Mills, Gaskell, T Willis, Porter, Spink, Kibirige.

[Banquo]

Very harsh on Spink, but Fekitoa is class when at his best. Tom Willis remains a tad unlucky.

[Peej]

I would rather bring Barbeary on with 30 to go to cause havoc and go for Willis, but Blackett seems pretty set. There is a lot of quality in that Lyon team. It's hard to see a Wasps win but who knows? Maybe this is weekend is peak-time on the Wasps inconsistency rollercoaster

[Raggs]

I think they want to rest Tom Willis whilst at the same time, not being able to. He played a hell of a lot in the start of the season.

[Mikey Brown]

I’m wary of summoning he-who-must-not-be-named (or replied to) with this one, but how is Jack Willis getting on both in terms of fitness and effectiveness, and as an openside?

It’s reasonable it may take him a while to get fully back to where he was, but I’m curious if he’s just as effective at 7 as 6. Obviously he’s a turnover machine, but something about how he played looked correct in the 6 shirt. Obviously makes sense for Wasps at the moment with Shields being such a key cog in the pack at 6. Has Young gone to Wales or is he just injured?

[Banquo]

I think they want to rest Tom Willis whilst at the same time, not being able to. He played a hell of a lot in the start of the season.

Fair point, I think he's still a better 8 than Alfie tbh....albeit a different styleee

[Scrumhead]

I’m wary of summoning he-who-must-not-be-named (or replied to) with this one, but how is Jack Willis getting on both in terms of fitness and effectiveness, and as an openside?

It’s reasonable it may take him a while to get fully back to where he was, but I’m curious if he’s just as effective at 7 as 6. Obviously he’s a turnover machine, but something about how he played looked correct in the 6 shirt. Obviously makes sense for Wasps at the moment with Shields being such a key cog in the pack at 6. Has Young gone to Wales or is he just injured?

I never really thought of him as a 6 TBH, more like a 7 with a bit more of a carrying game. A bit like peak Sean O’Brien. He’s looking pretty good - obviously not quite at his best yet, but it doesn’t seem like he’s obviously off the pace.

Young is injured I believe.

Interesting to see Kpoku starting for Lyon.

[Spiffy]

I’m wary of summoning he-who-must-not-be-named (or replied to) with this one, but how is Jack Willis getting on both in terms of fitness and effectiveness, and as an openside?

It’s reasonable it may take him a while to get fully back to where he was, but I’m curious if he’s just as effective at 7 as 6. Obviously he’s a turnover machine, but something about how he played looked correct in the 6 shirt. Obviously makes sense for Wasps at the moment with Shields being such a key cog in the pack at 6. Has Young gone to Wales or is he just injured?

Is Shields really such a key cog? The best Wasps back row combo could be Tom Willis (8) Jack Willis (7) and Alfie (6), even though Jack may be a better 6 than a 7. It's about getting your best players on the pitch. That said, Young is a great traditional 7 with hands, pace and brains. Not sure if he's already gone off to Wales. Tom Willis is an underrated 8. He's very good and tremendously consistent.

[Puja]

I’m wary of summoning he-who-must-not-be-named (or replied to) with this one, but how is Jack Willis getting on both in terms of fitness and effectiveness, and as an openside?

It’s reasonable it may take him a while to get fully back to where he was, but I’m curious if he’s just as effective at 7 as 6. Obviously he’s a turnover machine, but something about how he played looked correct in the 6 shirt. Obviously makes sense for Wasps at the moment with Shields being such a key cog in the pack at 6. Has Young gone to Wales or is he just injured?

Is Shields really such a key cog? The best Wasps back row combo could be Tom Willis (8) Jack Willis (7) and Alfie (6), even though Jack may be a better 6 than a 7. It's about getting your best players on the pitch. That said, Young is a great traditional 7 with hands, pace and brains. Not sure if he's already gone off to Wales. Tom Willis is an underrated 8. He's very good and tremendously consistent.

Yes, he really is. He gets through so much vital work that Barbeary just doesn't have the ability to do yet and, while JWillis could do a lot of what he does, it would then constrain his performance. I'd say Shields is Wasps' most vital player; they look a very different team without him.

In addition, both TWillis and Barbeary base their game around being the main ball carrier - if you pick both, one is going to have to play second fiddle and you'll get far less out of that one.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Yep. I’d completely agree with that.

Shields’ work rate and nous is what allows the rest of the back row to do what they do well. He has a different style of play but reminds me a bit of Robshaw in that respect.

Barbeary vs. Tom Willis at 8 is a genuine debate but the flankers pick themselves.

[Beasties]

And the reality is that you don’t get to choose 3 from those 4 all that often, and that’s without 2 or 3 of them being away for Eng duty in the future. Whilst Barbeary is a force of nature, Tom Willis is the one I’d pick as the starting 8, his workrate is insane and his carrying has become mightily effective albeit in a different way than Barbeary. Imagine having that selection headache.

[Puja]

And the reality is that you don’t get to choose 3 from those 4 all that often, and that’s without 2 or 3 of them being away for Eng duty in the future. Whilst Barbeary is a force of nature, Tom Willis is the one I’d pick as the starting 8, his workrate is insane and his carrying has become mightily effective albeit in a different way than Barbeary. Imagine having that selection headache.

Without wishing to come over all jngf, I'd be more comfortable with Barbeary and TWillis in the same backrow if TWillis were wearing 6.

My issue with Barbeary at 6 is that he doesn't have the nous and rugby knowledge to be in the right place at the right time to be the bits and pieces, hard-working glue of a back row that Shields is, plus his USP is his carrying so if he's not the primary ball carrying option, then you're using him wrong.

TWillis, on the other hand, has a much more rounded game and, while his carrying is good, it's not so dominant a part of his game that he's not worth having if he's not the primary. I think he could learn to understudy Shields and become an excellent 6 in a similar mould.

Puja

[twitchy]

Beautiful day for it.

[Puja]

Very entertaining 0-0 over 19 minutes so far. Wasps have probably had just the best of it - Willis has been utterly immense so far, just an absolute nuisance at the breakdown and taking three turnovers already. Barbeary's been okay without actively being good - one big bosh, but also a knock on and a silly penalty for rolling on the floor in contact. Atkinson's picking the Lyon defence apart, but they do look like they met in the carpark beforehand, so that's easier than it sounds. For Lyon, Kpoku's had an eye-catching break and has looked solid.

Puja

[Puja]

Also Alo is the most improved player this season. Showing up well in the loose in punishing heat and utterly destroying the Lyon scrum every time. Don't know if he'd fit Eddie's fitness standards, but he's got to be in the general conversation.

Robson dummies and sneaks over for the opening try while the entire Lyon defence was busy watching Barbeary - he's looking like he's having one of his good days today. 0-5.

Puja

[Raggs]

That was one of those that could nothing or a red card, or anything in between. Thankfully for Wasps it was called as nothing, which I agree with personally.

[twitchy]

This heat could work in wasps favour later on in the match. Everyone looks like they are suffering already.

[Puja]

That was one of those that could nothing or a red card, or anything in between. Thankfully for Wasps it was called as nothing, which I agree with personally.

Absolutely no penalty to my mind. Fekitoa didn't actually do anything; he just happened to be standing there when someone got tackled into his elbow.

You've got to think that the winner of Saracens - Toulon will absolutely murder whoever wins this. It's fun, but not great quality from either side.

Puja

[Puja]

Umaga's been crucial to the game, and not in a good way. Lyon's second try was the result of him getting stripped after catching a high ball just outside the 22, and he's just reacted to great counter-attack ball launched a terrible garryowen that barely went forward and resulted in everyone being offside. He's just been given the shepherd's crook while I'm typing this though, so that will help Wasps.

Wasps now about to be 20-11 down and the game is slipping away... actually, Lyon've just scuffed a simple penalty kick. Still 17-11.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

The quality of passing, or cohesion and timing of running, has been pretty awful from Wasps. Really cost them several times.

[Puja]

The quality of passing, or cohesion and timing of running, has been pretty awful from Wasps. Really cost them several times.

Agreed. Unsympathetic passes, plus overrunning, plus some plain old-fashioned clog-hands. So many knock ons.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Wasps really lacked the necessary accuracy. A lot of poor passes and spills, which given the very good conditions, was a disappointing effort. They just werent quite on it.

[Banquo]

Umaga's been crucial to the game, and not in a good way. Lyon's second try was the result of him getting stripped after catching a high ball just outside the 22, and he's just reacted to great counter-attack ball launched a terrible garryowen that barely went forward and resulted in everyone being offside. He's just been given the shepherd's crook while I'm typing this though, so that will help Wasps.

Wasps now about to be 20-11 down and the game is slipping away... actually, Lyon've just scuffed a simple penalty kick. Still 17-11.

Puja

He was poor and frankly looked a bit disinterestd and overawed.

Even a bit of quality improvement from Wasps would have seen them win the game, some of the handling was very substandard.

[Banquo]

Jack Willis remains excellent which is good to see, and he's a terrific openside in old money.

[Timbo]

Yes, Willis was class. Wasps just too many unforced errors and Lyon worked out that they were useless in the air.