Match action
WASPS back rower Jack Willis cites improved discipline and increased physicality as key to his side halting Bath’s juggernaut in its tracks.
Cock-a-hoop after last Wednesday’s smash-andgrab raid at Northampton, Stuart Hooper’s visitors have roared above Wasps on the back of three successive wins.
Willis is suitably impressed: “The thing we noticed was that they brought a physical edge and dominated Northampton in that area.
“They also like to play and its based on a dominant gainline, so it will be about us stopping that gainline and being dominant up front.”
While Bath were storming Franklin’s Gardens, Wasps require a response after a disappointing 20-11 home loss to Sale, despite dominating territory.
Willis added: “Sale won the discipline battle and the penalties at the breakdown and offsides. Some decisions were harsh but, overall, our discipline has got to be better. We allowed them to build pressure on the back of our penalties, which gave them access to our 22 and then you’re under the pump.
“We didn’t feel Sale were bringing anything in attack that was a massive threat so we should have trusted our defensive systems a bit more. Instead, we tested the law and ended up on the wrong side of it.”
With England boss Eddie Jones having watched Wasps’ last two games, turnover king Willis is certainly on the radar for an autumn Test call-up.
Bath’s back row features world-class stars and Willis said: “Sam Underhill and Toby Faletau are the sort of guys I want to be putting my body on the line against and testing myself.
“We come up against great players in the Premiership every week and these two are fantastic, so it will be about nullifying their impact on the game.”
He added: “If anything comes with England, it’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was a young lad. I came close in 2018, but the here and now is Bath and that’s the focus for me.”
With six rounds remaining, Wasps need to strike a blow against one of their closest rivals to boost their play-off chances. Willis said: “It’s the same as the Sale game, playing teams around you gives you the opportunity to take points off them.
“Bath will be a fantastic test and overtaking them will be the net result of putting in a strong performance.”
Teams will be announced today.