Wasps vs Toulouse

[Peej]

Wasps (First-team appearances)

15 Jacob Umaga (59)
14 Ali Crossdale (10)
13 Paolo Odogwu (23)
12 Jimmy Gopperth (140)
11 Josh Bassett (162)
10 Charlie Atkinson (19)
9 Sam Wolstenholme (26)
1 Rodrigo Martinez (1)
2 Tom Cruse (106)
3 Biyi Alo (26)
4 Tim Cardall (41)
5 James Gaskell (143)
6 Alfie Barbeary (20)
7 Brad Shields (65) (c)
8 Tom Willis (51)

Replacements
16 Dan Frost (9)
17 Zac Nearchou (5)
18 Pieter Scholtz (5)
19 Nizaam Carr (66)
20 Thomas Young (150)
21 Will Porter (40)
22 Rob Miller (127)
23 Ryan Mills (6)

Unavailable (19): Malakai Fekitoa, Vaea Fifita, Ben Harris, Robin Hislop, Francois Hougaard, Zach Kibirige, Joe Launchbury, Elliot Millar-Mills, Matteo Minozzi, Gabriel Oghre, Dan Robson, Will Simonds, Sam Spink, Elliott Stooke, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Theo Vukasinovic, Marcus Watson, Tom West, Jack Willis.

To play:
https://rugbyrebels.co/board/download/f ... ew&id=1179

[Peej]

Wasps injuries are going up. I don't know much about the reserve props Toulouse have, but Wasps' are pretty weak. Nearchou is learning but having his arse handed to him, Scholtz has barely been seen due to being completely unfit, as far as we can tell. Wasps normal tactic of playing a starting TH until half time and then replacing them might not work this week, if neither Alo or Scholtz can manage a full 40.

[Scrumhead]

Good to see Odogwu starting.

Curious to see Umaga at 15 and Atkinson at 10. When they’ve played together in the past, it’s been the other way around.

19 on an unavailable list is significant …

[francoisfou]

I'd like to think that the bench props for Toulouse are capable. Cramont, only 21, I read has played for France U20 and has played a handful if first team matches for Toulouse and wouldn't be thought of as a regular bench option. Rodrigue Neti, the other bench prop has been capped twice by France in the Autumn Nations Cup a couple of years ago so should be able to hold his own, at least.
The one player whose name is new to me is scrum half Martin Page-Relo, and I think it's his first match for the 1st XV. Last season he played for ProD2 Carcassonne. Antoine Dupont hasn't played since the match in Cardiff mid December and is carrying an unspecified injury. Balès, the bench scrum half is Dupont's regular understudy, I believe.
Thibault Flament will relish playing against his former club.
Toulouse have lost away to Bordeaux and Clermont in the last few weeks (which isn't the end of the world!) and will need to impose themselves quickly against Wasps as Wasps will have a spring in their step after toppling Tigers last weekend.
Toulouse by 12/15 points.

[FKAS]

I'd like to think that the bench props for Toulouse are capable. Cramont, only 21, I read has played for France U20 and has played a handful if first team matches for Toulouse and wouldn't be thought of as a regular bench option. Rodrigue Neti, the other bench prop has been capped twice by France in the Autumn Nations Cup a couple of years ago so should be able to hold his own, at least.
The one player whose name is new to me is scrum half Martin Page-Relo, and I think it's his first match for the 1st XV. Last season he played for ProD2 Carcassonne. Antoine Dupont hasn't played since the match in Cardiff mid December and is carrying an unspecified injury. Balès, the bench scrum half is Dupont's regular understudy, I believe.
Thibault Flament will relish playing against his former club.
Toulouse have lost away to Bordeaux and Clermont in the last few weeks (which isn't the end of the world!) and will need to impose themselves quickly against Wasps as Wasps will have a spring in their step after toppling Tigers last weekend.
Toulouse by 12/15 points.

Wasps were excellent at spoiling in that game and they'll need to have the impressive effort again because Tolouse attack even with the little magician is impressive. Not sure on the Wasps backrow though, it was a bit clunky until the second half last weekend. I wonder if we'll see Barbeary take on the bulk of carrying earlier in the game this weekend.

[p/d]

Jeez. Ref card… my a**se

[FKAS]

Jeez. Ref card… my a**se

What happened?

[Peej]

High tackle, head on head contact.

Umaga was wrapping and had bent knees, so it does seem a bit harsh. But even so, poor technique has resulted in head on head contact and I'm not sure we can be that surprised

[FKAS]

Yeah if it's head on head contact you can't really complain. Did the player have to leave the field? If an injury results you've got little chance of getting away with it.

[Epaminondas Pules]

It is head of head but Umaga hits him tit height at most and has turned his head out of the way and they’ve collided.

[francoisfou]

Nothing malicious in Umaga’s “tackle”, but with head to head the referee had no choice. Toulouse are lacking their usual flair but with the man advantage they’ll surely pull away now - at least, I hope so!

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah I think that's pretty tough. I don't know how you can be crouched so low but also able to shift out the way when the carrier flies head-first at you.

Dallaglio just said a similar thing so I may well be wrong.

[p/d]

Yellow right call…… but

[p/d]

Shields is really growing on me. Top bloke

[Peej]

Yeah, Barbeary was falling. But the ref didn't seem to be trying to find mitigation for Umaga.

[Mikey Brown]

What does Healey think "honeymoon period" means? Jesus christ. I noticed Ben Kay's thing of calling two bad mistakes in a row "double jeopardy" has caught on to the other pundits too.

Yellow maybe fair, but certainly seemed at least as bad as Umaga's tackle.

[p/d]

Brilliant. Come on Wasps!!!

[Mikey Brown]

Dallaglio's gone full Joe Biden.

That would have been a fantastic try.

[p/d]

Dallaglio's gone full Joe Biden.

That would have been a fantastic try.

Thankfully watching on CH4, so no Dayglo

[Adam_P]

Yeah, Barbeary was falling. But the ref didn't seem to be trying to find mitigation for Umaga.

I think both calls were right tbh. There was no drop in height from the Toulouse player before Umaga hit him, in fact he rose slightly immediately before contact. Whereas with Barbeary there was a fair drop.

Classy interaction with the ref from Shields after the yellow.

[Peej]

Incredible

[fivepointer]

Highly entertaining game and a terrific result for Wasps. Toulouse had their moments but Wasps dug deep, showed great character and did just enough.
Barbeary again came good in the 2nd half. Porter lively and Atkinson did a number of good things. Odogwu showed up well after such a long lay off. Shields and Gopperth are doing a sterling job in leading this side right now.
The cards were probably right. I dont think there would have been too many complaints if Umaga got a yellow but he got into an awful position that made any mitigation difficult. The Toulouse yellow was right as Barbeary was clearly going down.

[Raggs]

Unfortunately missed it, but definitely going to be one that I watch!

[francoisfou]

A side that concedes so many turnovers doesn’t deserve to wind. That being said, we were outdone more or less everywhere and looked thoroughly out of sorts. It’s becoming crystal clear how much Dupont is missed.

[Banquo]

brilliant Wasps, Barbeary excellent staying power. Harsh red.