Wasps aim to give legend Jimmy a perfect send-off
LEE Blackett has paid tribute to Jimmy Gopperth who this weekend plays his final game for Wasps – against Leicester, the team he is joining in the summer.
Wasps need to do what no other Premiership club has accomplished this season and win at Welford Road if they are to pip London Irish to a place in the Champions Cup next season, or secure a bonus point draw.
Gopperth is 39 next month, but the centre has again been a mainstay this season, making 27 appearances in all competitions and scoring 169 points in the Premiership.
Only Alex Lozowski, George Ford and Paddy Jackson have accumulated more and the New Zealander is also fourth on the all-time points scorers list.
“People will remember Jimmy for match-winning moments, but for me it is about how he has always backed me, his team-mates and everyone in the environment,” said Blackett, the Wasps head coach.
“We went through a bad period in my first year at the club, but he backed everything we did and was really positive. He drove the energy and we then won 10 out of 11 matches.
“After we got to the Premiership final in 2017, we lost five on the bounce the following season and again
he was brilliant through that period because he was so upbeat, something people don’t see.
“Of course there are moments when he was won or drawn us a match late on, such as Exeter and away at Toulouse and Gloucester, but for me it is about his backing and he deserves a good send-off.”
Having represented New Zealand U21s, the Hurricanes and the Blues, Gopperth headed north to join Newcastle in 2009. After more than 100 appearances for Falcons, Gopperth joined Leinster for two seasons and returned to the Premiership with Wasps in 2015.
Not many players of
Gopperth’s age change clubs. Blackett did not want him to go, but following the reduction in the Premiership’s salary cap he was not able to make an early decision on a new contract.
Leicester stepped in and with so much uncertainty around, players cannot afford to turn down opportunities. It is believed that Gopperth will have a player-coach role at Leicester, although the club’s head coach Steve Borthwick refused to comment on that.
“We knew the gamble,” said Blackett. “I spoke to him in December when we needed a couple more months, but unfortunately he signed for Leicester in that period.”
“I am excited by the new challenge at Leicester,” said Gopperth, who started his Premiership career at Newcastle and joined Wasps in 2015. “I cannot wait to rip in, but for now I have unfinished business with my Wasps brothers.”