Classy Smith keeps Wasps flying high
WASPS are enjoying George Smith while they can. The legendary former Australia flanker has been helping England recently and yesterday he was back in the routine of helping his club win again.
The 35-year-old will depart at the end of this season for a swansong in Japan and on this evidence he will illuminate the game in the Far East. He certainly lit up this otherwise messy match in Coventry, demonstrating his skills as a playmaker to create two tries for the man of the match, Wasps full-back Rob Miller.
Midway through the first half, Smith produced a searing break out of his own half and passed to Thomas Young, who in turn released Miller to race away and score. The openside’s creative class was apparent again 13 minutes from the end when he stepped into space and delivered a deft inside pass to Miller, whose fullthrottle burst took him clear of the defence to touch down again.
Jimmy Gopperth converted both tries and also struck a penalty, and England centre Elliot Daly landed two long- range shots. Wasps weren’t always convincing but they were cruising by the time Nathan Hughes picked up from an attacking scrum and fed replacement scrumhalf Jamie Stevenson, who darted over for the hosts’ third try.
This latest Aviva Premiership victory left Dai Young’s side third in the table, in touch with secondplaced Exeter, who they face in a Champions Cup quarter-final at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday.
Their director of rugby paid tribute — once again — to Smith (right), saying: ‘George played his normal game. He got a bit loose at times, like everyone did, but when it’s George we let him off! We would love to keep him but we knew when he came that it would be for one season only. He has been brilliant for the Premiership. Everyone has enjoyed seeing a player of that quality and luckily he’s playing for us! He’s got to be one of the players of the year.
‘I’m thrilled with what he’s given us. It’s the unseen things — his professionalism around the club, the way he prepares and how approachable he is. He’s been great for us off the field as well as
on it.’
Reflecting on his team’s hit-andmiss performance, Young added: ‘There was quite a bit of ugly stuff from us today. We were loose and edgy. Today’s performance won’t be good enough next week.’
Saints struggled in the scrum and had just two Stephen Myler penalties to show for a stack of possession. As they turn to a European showdown with Saracens at Allianz Park next weekend, losing Kieran Brookes and Lee Dickson to concussion injuries was far from ideal, especially as Dylan Hartley and Luther Burrell were already recovering from similar setbacks.
‘They (Brookes and Dickson) are up and about,’ said director of rugby Jim Mallinder. ‘Both have taken knocks to the head. We will look after them. We can’t rush them back. Luther was close to playing and he should be fine for next week. Dylan is getting better but we’re not sure when he will return. Hopefully, we will get him up and doing some exercise next week.’
Daly may be the subject of a disciplinary investigation as replays suggested that it was his swinging arm into Dickson’s head which left the Northampton scrum- half knocked out. ‘Lee got the ball away, then he got tackled,’ said Mallinder. ‘We need to look at that.’