CHRISTIAN PARTY TIME
Wasps star increases Gloucester headache
A WEEK which started with an alleged drubbing on the dance floor ended with a different kind of drubbing in Coventry.
Gloucester’s five-game winning run came to an abrupt halt — although head coach Johan Ackermann insisted that accusations of a nightclub brawl in Cheltenham were not a factor.
Instead, it was the attacking edge of Wasps which proved too much, as two tries from Christian Wade and 19 points from Danny Cipriani saw the hosts leapfrog Gloucester into second place.
‘Nothing hindered our preparations,’ insisted Ackermann. ‘It was dealt with on Monday. We are disappointed with the result because no one likes to lose. Life will throw you challenges and hit you hard sometimes, but you just have to get on with it.’
Gloucester were undone by Wasps’ second-half sting.
If every player in the Wasps backline had the tackle ethic of Kyle Eastmond, the job could have been done by half-time. The pint-sized centre punched above his weight in midfield, forcing Cherry and White runners backwards with his aggressive and energy-sapping tackles.
‘ Without a shadow of a doubt, Kyle’s an international centre who isn’t playing international rugby,’ said Wasps coach Dai Young. ‘Everybody’s bigger than him but he’s got very good tackling technique and he’s aggressive. His rugby league background helps and he knows how to defend. If he can keep himself fit, he’s as good as any centre in England.’
Despite Eastmond’s ef f ort s , Gloucester made three visits to the Wasps 22 in the first- half and scored three tries. Wasps lost collisions and their defensive line was left scrambled as Willi Heinz, Mark Atkinson and Tom Marshall crossed to turn pressure into points.
Lineouts were lost by both sides and scrum after sc rum was awarded by referee Craig MaxwellKeys, who gave most of the early decisions in favour of the hosts. But a three-way tackle by Ollie Thorley, Ruan Ackermann and Heinz, who held up Wade, proved the difference at the break.
Willie Le Roux crossed early on after a powerful carry by flanker Jack Willis — one to watch for 2018. Eventually Wade did score, capitalising on a set-piece strike play after Cipriani looped around Eastmond from a lineout move to create space on the right wing.
Wasps were still playing catch-up at half-time but Thomas Young’s 49th-minute try proved a gamechanger. The ball squirted from the ruck during a Gloucester attack, with Eastmond and Le Roux combining to give Young a 70-metre run-in. It was a 14-point swing.
Suddenly Gloucester were chasing the game and their discipline unravelled. Their penalty count increased and their passing became loose. They were easy prey and Cipriani kept the scoreboard ticking with the boot. Wasps stepped up their aggression and soon secured the bonus point.
Josh Bassett intercepted a long pass deep in Gloucester territory for Guy Thompson to score, but the winger left with a hamstring injury to add to the club’s growing medical list. Freddie Clarke struck back for a Gloucester bonus point, but overall Wasps were too strong.
Dan Robson and Wade added the late gloss to the scoreline — leaving Gloucester with little reason to carry on the party.
‘Things went a bit pear-shaped in the second-half,’ said Ackermann. ‘We threw three intercept tries and our heads dropped.’
There was some more good news for Wasps when Eastmond said he would not be leaving union at the end of the season, despite reported interest from Super League.
‘There’s nothing in it,’ he said. ‘I’m focussed on Wasps.’