Wasps - 1st

STORY OF THE SEASON: Can be summed up in one word: Attack. Wasps have gone for broke from the off and lead all of the attacking stats. Most tries (89); most metres gained (10,310); most clean breaks (264) and most defenders beaten (539). By way of contrast they have also conceded more tries (61) than any of the top seven teams in the regular season. Wasps consistently back themselves simply to score more points than their opponents but it does mean that occasionally they can come quite badly unstuck if the intensity isn’t there or the attacking magic deserts them or can be nullified. Their four regular season defeats were all quite painful affairs and all away from home – 30-14 at Sarries; 36-18 at Gloucester; 34-28 at Sale and 32-13 at Quins. STAND-OUTS: Many and various ranging from Christian Wade, Jimmy Gopperth, Elliott Daly (right), Danny Cipriani and both scrum-halves – Dan Robson and Joe Simpson – to the heart of their pack with the likes of Joe Launchbury, Ashley Johnson, Tommy Taylor, Nathan Hughes and Thomas Young. Getting them all to fire on the same day is a challenge though. STRENGTHS: Their sheer try scoring ability can be matched only by Exeter. They possess a back three that would scare most Test teams, the brilliance and solidity of Daly and Gopperth at centre and the creativity of Cipriani and Robson/Simpson at half-back. Gopperth has occasionally played 10 in his usual accomplished fashion but there is no doubt that Cipriani at fly-half and Gopperth at 12 is the combination that brings out the best in Wasps. Up front Wasps’ major strength is the versatility, ball carrying power and depth off their bench of their back row. WEAKNESSES: A front five containing just one current Test player – the excellent Joe Launchbury – can struggle against the very best and without that steady supply of ball the Wasps backs are less effective.That stat of 61 tries conceded – nearly three a game – is not what you expect from the leaders of the regular season regardless of their own attacking game. COACH’S CORNER: Dai Young has done a superb job with Wasps, steering them through choppy waters a few years back when their very survival was in doubt and if anything building on their attacking traditions. Young will know, however, that his pack collectively must now step up a level. MIRACLE MAN: Christian Wade doesn’t just score a lot of tries, many of them are very special indeed, the product of his own try scoring genius. His highlights reel for this season is sensational. PREDICTION: Winners. Lots of angry, hungry, ambitious overlooked players with points to prove. STORY OF THE SEASON: