TheRUGBYPaper Wasps make it two wins from two in Champions Cup
LEE Blackett has no intention of throwing Alfie Barbeary the No.12 jersey just yet.
He is more than happy to keep his all-action man firmly entrenched in the pack while he is creating so much havoc.
Barbeary, at No.8 this time, produced another ultra-committed performance to grab two tries in this victory by a Wasps side lacking some first-choice players.
The 20-year-old showed why Eddie Jones has taken a shine to him and chose to call him into his Autumn Nations Cup squad as a hooker.
Wasps picked up a second successive bonuspoint win of the new European campaign, and Barbeary, who had a hand and boot in two other tries while also picking up a yellow card near the end, said: “It was a busy night!
“I really enjoyed it out there. I like being involved on the field and doing my bit for the team. I don’t really mind which position the boss wants me to play in but now I’m just waiting for him to stick me in at centre!
“I am happy with two tries and another massive win for the team. Getting another crucial bonus point win was important to keep the momentum going.”
Barbeary now has eight tries in ten games for the club and head coach Blackett says the player’s energy and enthusiasm are clear for all to see.
Blackett added: “Alfie was always able to be the boss in junior rugby, but he is now proving he is a good talent. There’s been a huge change in his training mentality in the last four months and he is a very confident young man who believes in himself.
“He says he wants to play centre and I’m not sure whether he’s joking. But right now he’s doing a decent job in the pack!
“It was great to see Alfie and the half-backs, Charlie Atkinson and Will Porter, doing so well tonight as they are youngsters playing in key positions.”
Blackett’s decision to rest Tom Willis, Joe Launchbury and Dan Robson, while giving several youngsters, including scrum-half Porter (22) and fly-half Atkinson (19) a run out, paid dividends. Porter was at the centre of the red card which left Montpellier playing with 14 men for 74 minutes. He was hit hard and illegally by South African Henry Immelman who charged into him recklessly, thumping him on the head with his shoulder as he caught a high ball and referee Andrew Brace promptly send him off.
Montpellier scrum-half Benoit Paillaugue missed two penalties and Jimmy Gopperth was also off target for Wasps before Barbeary showed his grit and power to charge over from close range for the opening try. Lock James Gaskell burst onto Tom Cruse’s pass to gallop over the line for the second while former Wasp Alex Lozowski responded with one for Montpellier, racing from half way after Atkinson spilled the ball.
Montpellier, who have lost both their opening game, briefly took the lead when replacement Yvan Reilhac breezed over the line with the Wasps defence awol for once but when centre Paolo Odogwu stepped on the gas the Montpellier defence merely choked in his fumes as he raced over the line.
Barbeary made sure of the bonus point with another surge from close range and Atkinson completed the victory by strolling in as Montpellier’s 14 men ran out of puff.