Dai’s planning more direct approach against Bath

BATH are likely to be confronted by adapted tactics from Wasps in this Sunday’s Premiership clash, according to Dai Young.

Wasps’ boss and his coaching team have grown increasingly concerned about their team’s ability to shoot itself in the foot, and aim to address the problem with a more direct approach.

He believes his team are guilty of playing too much rugby in their own half, and of causing costly turnovers through being too lateral in attack.

And having seen a shift of emphasis deliver a greatly improved second-half display during last week’s defeat at Exeter, Wasps are set to adopt the same strategy when Bath visit the Ricoh on Sunday.

“While we want to go wide, we must have penetration going forwards first, and we’ve got that balance wrong in the last few weeks,” Young said.

“It’s not what we set out to do, but when we have the option to hit a runner in the front line, or go out the back and wide, we haven’t always taken the right option.

“If you go wide straight away, the opposition have got too many defenders on their feet. We need to hit that front line more, so against Bath and over the next couple of weeks we’ll probably simplify things.

“That doesn’t mean there will be huge changes in how we play, but we’ll be more direct and aim to get penetration going forwards as we did in the second half at Exeter, after which opportunities will hopefully arise.”

Although Wasps have already twice conceded five tries in a match this season, their boss says this has been more about their tactical approach than tackling, which he believes has been generally sound.

“Our tackle stats have been generally very good. In fact we’re in the top two or three every week for tackle percentages,” he said.

“We’ve conceded points because we’ve given opponents too many opportunities from our own attack, so that’s where we’ve put our focus this week.

“Our kicking game hasn’t been accurate enough, and that’s something we’ve talked about getting on the money. If you kick badly, you’re then on toast, as all your defenders are in the wrong place.

“We’ve also spent far too much time playing inside our own half, and if we then turn it over we provide the opposition with a great platform to attack.

“So I don’t doubt our will to tackle, it’s more about the number we’re having to make and the area of the pitch we’re having to defend in.”