Wasps in the way of Exiles triple bid
LONDON Irish are the only club still fighting on three fronts after making the Premiership Cup final last week, but defeat to Wasps at the Brentford Community Stadium today would end their quest for a play-off berth.
Irish, who are in Toulon a week today for their European Challenge Cup semi-final, have two league matches left and, while they are still in contention for the final play-off slot, they could also finish ninth and miss out on qualifying for the Champions Cup through the Premiership.
They have not beaten Wasps at home for nine years. They thought they had remedied that at the end of last season when they led 33-10 at half-time, but after a second half collapse they ended up losing to a last-minute try by Tom Willis.
“We have talked about that,” said wing Ollie Hassell-Collins, who, along with Cadan Murphy of Harlequins, has made more clean breaks than any other player in the Premiership this season, 20. “We have grown a lot since then and it is an exciting time for the club.
“It is a while since we have won silverware and it was a massive achievement to make the Premiership Cup final. It was good to see the young guys clicking and we are building nicely. Every club wants that depth and competition for places and everyone who played in the semi-final against Leicester would have been in contention to face Wasps.”
The 59-20 semi-final victory over Tigers showcased the talents of two 19-year-old members of this season’s England U20 squad who have appeared in the Premiership this season – full-back Henry Arundell, who scored two tries through his pace and deft footwork, and centre Will Joseph, who finished the scoring with a run from the halfway line.
“They are massively exciting and there are more players coming through,” said HassellCollins. “Watching that match from the sidelines made you want to get out there and play.
“We have built momentum in other competitions and everyone knows how important it is for the club to get into the top four. Wasps will be a big hurdle. They are a very good outfit with players capable of magic moments. Toulon away will be tough but we have to take it one competition at a time and our focus has been on Wasps. Everyone knows the significance of the next few weeks. This has been one of my best seasons at Irish. I have loved every minute.”
Irish’s improvement has led to Hassell-Collins, flanker Tom Pearson and prop Will Goodrick-Clarke being called up by England while seven of their players were involved in England U20’s Six Nations campaign
“Being called up by England was down to everyone here, players and coaches,” said Hassell-Collins, who has scored nine Premiership tries this season. “I am looking to kick on and get in as many squads as I can, bring it back to Irish and help show the young guys here what it takes to get there. I want to give back as much as I can.
“I did not expect to play for England, but it was good to experience that environment with new coaches and the best players in the country. It was all about learning what makes an international team. I was determined to make the most out of it and push myself in training to hit that intensity regularly.”
London Irish make 13 changes from the side that reached the Premiership Cup final. Only centre Curtis Rona and lock George Nott remain in the starting XV.
Wasps makes three changes from the win over Worcester. Gabriel Oghre, who came off the bench to score two tries last week, starts at hooker, flanker Tom Willis also comes in, with scrum-half Francois Hougaard starting on the wing.