Buzzing Beale leads way as Wasps sound title warning
PERHAPS of most concern for Bath and the rest of Wasps’ Aviva Premiership rivals was that Dai Young’s under-strength side barely broke sweat while completely outclassing their opponents.
Such was the gulf in quality and cohesion between the sides that the visitors could afford to make a string of handling errors and kick poorly from hand while rarely moving out of third gear, yet still leave the Recreation Ground disappointed by not securing a try bonus point.
With quality coursing through their starting lineup, even in the absence of England stars James Haskell, Joe Launchbury and Elliott Daly, Wasps were too good in every department.
This was a crushing defeat for Bath. Even with Anthony Watson returning on the right wing, Taulupe Faletau at No8 and Luke Charteris in the second row, they were never at the races. Their kicking strategy was shambolic.
Wasps ran in three tries — two from their outstanding Wallaby full-back Kurtley Beale and one from right wing Christian Wade — but could easily have had five or six on a chastening afternoon for Todd Blackadder’s men.
Beale, who Wasps hope will sign a contract extension beyond the end of this season, was absolutely superb. He finished both his tries, one in each half, in style while marshalling his team with authority from the back.
‘By the very nature of Kurtley being a quality player, he has a number of options,’ said Wasps director of rugby Young. ‘We put our best foot forward and we’re expecting a decision in the next week. There’s a lot for Kurtley to think about. Whether he wants to have another season in the Premiership or go back to Australia.
‘I’m sure he’s got plenty of options and things to consider. Fingers crossed he stays but if he doesn’t we want to make sure he finishes strongly. He’s got better with every game. Today was his best game for us.’
Such is the depth of Wasps’ squad that even if they are unable to retain Beale, they still have players of the calibre of Springbok Willie Le Roux, who played on the wing here, and Daly, whom most clubs would crave as their starting full-back.
This victory means Wasps completed the four-game Premiership window without their England contingent with two wins, a draw and a loss to Sale but in excellent shape to threaten Saracens as title contenders.
They are top of the Premiership table on 64 points following this impressive victory and will surely fancy their chances at the business end of the season with their international cavalry still to return.
Exeter Chiefs may also have a say in the outcome of the league but, on this evidence, Bath most certainly will not.
More heavily hit by injuries than most clubs, the West Countrymen should surely have more to offer than this sorry display in front of 14,509 mostly home fans who grew increasingly disenchanted by their side’s failure to compete.
The kicking from both sides was wayward at times, though Bath’s was notably worse, while Wasps really didn’t have to work hard to cut their opponents to ribbons on countless occasions.
Watson, who has hardly played this season after suffering a fractured jaw and then a strained hamstring, looked understandably off the pace and short of confidence. Some of his footwork was good but, with Eddie Jones watching, he is unlikely to feature in next week’s Calcutta Cup.
Young fly-half Adam Hastings produced some nice touches but was forced to play off back-foot ball and some of Bath’s tactical kicking was absolutely woeful.
‘We never really fired a shot and that’s disappointing,’ said Blackadder. ‘We were really passive today and we kept kicking the ball to them. We let the best backline in the competition attack, attack, attack and it wore us down. We let ourselves down.’