Wasps hurt by injury count
there are critics who point to a poor record against Southern Hemisphere sides and a perceived onedimensional style of play.
“I don’t think I’m undervalued and I think there is a huge amount of respect for what we have achieved,” said Gatland. “When people look back over the last 10 years, they’ll look back at what has been a golden period of Welsh rugby.
“We’ve got a generation now who expect Wales to compete against the best teams in the world, but when you change expectations and perceptions, you possibly create a little bit of a rod for your own back.
“There is no doubt with the Welsh that when there’s agony they want the ecstasy and when you give them the ecstasy, they want the agony. Our record
against Southern 26, it is not unrealistic to foresee him reaching a century of caps a few years down the line.
“It’s crept up a bit,” Launchbury said. “I never thought at one moment I would get 50 caps. So if the opportunity arises, it will be a fantastic achievement and one that will make my family really proud.
“Mako Vunipola and I were talking about it Hemisphere opposition has not been as good as we would have liked.
“We’ve put ourselves in positions where we should have won a lot more games, but now anyone who follows Wales can go to the stadium and think their team has a good chance of winning.”
The World Cup next year will be Gatland’s Wales swansong, and the desire is strong to end with a bang.
“Some of the Welsh guys from the Seventies won three Grand Slams and that’s as good as anyone in the history of the game,” said Gatland. “My focus now is doing well in Japan in 2019.
“A group of our guys will know that’s their last World Cup and if they’re in the squad and can stay fit, they will be pretty motivated to finish on a high – it’s the same for me.” the other night. We made out debuts together and have been in and around the team since then and have had some great moments in an England shirt. Hopefully there are more to come.”
WASPS EXETER
JIMMY GOPPERTH’S late penalty sealed this victory for Wasps, but the injury fall-out might have more effect on their Premiership fate.
His 77th-minute strike closed the gap between his side, in third, and Exeter to four points but the win came at a gruesome cost.
Danny Cipriani limped off with an Achilles injury after 48 minutes, back-rower Jack Willis retired with a shoulder knock and try-scoring wing Marcus Watson rolled his ankle.
Replacement flanker Alex Rieder had the worst luck. Six minutes into his comeback after a five-month lay-off, he suffered a horrific leg injury. He was trapped under Exeter’s Will Chudley in the 56th minute and was carried off after lengthy treatment.
Wasps eked out the win, but director of rugby Dai Young was bemoaning his luck. “Alex’s looked nasty and he has gone for a scan,” he said. “It has put a dampener on the day for us because he has worked his socks off after injury. You can’t help but feel for him.”
Champions Exeter blew four chances close to the line as they suffered a third Premiership defeat on the spin for the first time since 2015.
Director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “It is frustrating but we’re back on a upward curve and that is the most important thing.”
Watson’s score came from a neat pass from Willie le Roux. Jonny Hill was yellow-carded for his tip tackle on Le Roux in that move and in the second half Ashley Johnson was sin-binned for charging into a ruck.
With Johnson off, Luke Cowan-Dickie scored from a driving lineout, but Gopperth had the last word.
I don’t feel that I’m undervalued