Wasps swatted by comeback Quins
WASPS face a nervy eight days after they slipped to a disappointing 32-13 round 21 Premiership defeat at Harlequins.
Veteran fly half Nick Evans, playing his last home game prior to retiring, proved their nemesis, by kicking 22 points in a controlled exhibition.
Wasps had only themselves to blame for some poor second half discipline, which saw two players yellow carded, and a number of tackles missed.
This enabled their hosts to reverse a 6-10 half-time deficit and eventually run out comfortable winners.
Dai Young’s team secured a final four spot for a second consecutive season some weeks ago, but now face a battle to secure the all-important home semi-final.
The pressure will be eased should either Exeter and Saracens fail to collect five point returns from their home games against Northampton and Bristol tomorrow.
However, it looks increasingly likely that the winner of Wasps’ Ricoh Arena meeting with Sarries next Saturday will go on to host a return meeting between the clubs in the semi-finals on April 20 or 21.
A frantic start saw Quins twice dangerously counter attack through Mike Brown and Joe Marchant, but Wasps’ defence proved up to both challenges.
When Wasps infringed on the ground, their hosts had no hesitation in opting for a close-range lineout, but when Wayne Barnes immediately awarded Quins a second penalty the soon-to-retire Nick Evans kicked three easy points.
England’s top referee was taking charge of Wasps for the first time in 18 months, and he then took exception to Joe Marler’s entry point to a maul, but Jimmy Gopperth’s long-range angled penalty drifted wide.
Dan Robson twice sniped dangerously from the base for Wasps, but the visitors turned possession over on both occasions, after which a flowing Quins attack in which Marland Yarde featured prominently ended with a midfield knock-on.
A flowing Wasps’ attack briefly looked to have created an overlap on the right, before the door was shut on Kurtley Beale by a thumping tackle.
However, Dai Young’s team did soon take the lead through a typically outstanding long-distance score.
There seemed little danger when Gopperth climbed highest to recover a box kick 65 metres from the home line, but he stepped the first tackler before launching a counter that ended with the supporting Dan Robson scrambling past Tim Visser’s desperate last-ditch tap tackle to claim a try which Gopperth upgraded.
There was a real determination about Wasps’ scrummaging and defence in the opening half hour, and led by Tommy Taylor the forwards did well to drive a Quins maul into touch following a close-range lineout.
However, the concession of a fifth penalty – for offside – allowed Evans to bring Quins to within a single point five minutes before the break.
But he almost immediately missed the chance to restore the hosts’ advantage from 40 metres, after which Gopperth showed the way with a superbly struck effort from a similar range when Kyle Sinckler was pinged for a late tackle.
This left Wasps with a four point interval lead, which Guy Thompson’s powerful burst deep into the home 22 briefly threatened to increase.
However, Wasps’ bright start to the second half came to a shuddering halt when Beale flew out of their defensive line, which allowed Chris Robshaw to carry powerfully and leave Visser with an easy finish.
Evans’ superb touchline conversion restored Quins early three point advantage, and when Thomas Young was penalised for a high tackle following Marland Yarde’s searing break, his 30-metre kick doubled it.
The visitors’ poor second half continued when Willie Le Roux was shown a yellow card for taking Marchant out in the air, and Evans kicked his fourth successful penalty of the evening. Despite their numerical inferiority, Wasps got back within range with a 25-metre Gopperth penalty after their hosts infringed defending a driving maul.
However, they promptly conceded three further points to Evans’ unerring right boot when they were caught offside in front of their own posts.
And any lingering black-and-gold hopes disappeared when Joe Launchbury was shown a yellow card for killing the ball on his own line following Marchant’s break, and Evans kicked three more easy points.
And Quins rubbed salt into their visitors’ wounds by claiming a late try through England prospect Marchant which Evans upgraded.