Twickenham stuffed to the rafters for Gloucester vs Quins

....so different to the crowds we see in the SH. All this bodes well for their player budgets. The failure of Super rugby as a contested spectacle is damaging the game in South Africa and Australia. I also noticed a forelorn Swiel, touted by so many pundits as the next best thing, spending the whole match on the Quins subs bench. I guess the match was to close to risk bringing him on.

 Mozart, you need to watch some of the Wasps games, loads of Int talent and attractive rugby aswell. Goperth, Halai, Beale, Le Roux (when he joins in Feb), Daley, Eastmond, Wade, Basset, Cipriani, Miller, Simpson and Robson. Thats one exciting set of backs.

I watched Wasps a couple of weeks back I think in Beale's first game.....these are enjoyable contests. As I noted on another string, keeping a solid core of domestic players is important for the national team.....so far the Poms seem to be benefiting from the step up in talent.

 They've produced some of the best U20 team's in the world in recent seasons, they have decent depth supporting the elite England squad.

 ...speaking of Wasps..not long to kick off now...  Wasps side ,rotating their squad , interestingly resting/ dropping Kurtley Beale completely..An away game for Wasps ..
Newcastle Falcons $3.50   Wasps $1.27

...Wasps team15. Rob Miller

14. Christian Wade
13. Elliot Daly
12. Kyle Eastmond
11. Josh Bassett
10. Danny Cipriani
9. Dan Robson
1. Matt Mullan (c)
2. Tommy Taylor
3. Marty Moore
4. Matt Symons
5. James Gaskell
6. Thomas Young
7. Guy Thompson
8. Nathan Hughes

16. Ashley Johnson
17. Tom Bristow
18. Phil Swainston
19. Will Rowlands
20. Alex Rieder
21. Joe Simpson
22. Jimmy Gopperth

23. Guy Armitage 

 ...Newcastle and former Blues halfback/ Tongan international Sonatane Takulua and England international Marcus Watson scoring in the first few minutes for Newcastle...Wasps looking a bit shell shocked...12-0

 ...Classy little chip over the top and regather from Danny Cipriani to score under the posts for Wasps midway through the first half.. 12 -7
...Wasps straight back on the attack Christian Wade scores again for Wasps Wasps now leading 14 - 12

 ...Lead changing hands again Newcastle forward drive near the line resulting in TRY for prop Vickers...19-14...
... Wasps centre lucky as ref and TMO argue about whether a yellow card was deserved for head high but penalty only...penalty kick slotted by Newcastle increasing there lead to 22-14

 ...Wasps score again on the stroke of halftime...22 -21 Newcastle lead...not a bad first 40 with six tries scored...anybodies game..

 ...Gopperth on for Cipriani now and scores the bonus point TRY, converting his own kick.. 28 -22  Wasps lead... 
Penalty conversion Newcastle 28 - 25
Wasps straight back deep down into the Newcastle half...secure a penalty converted by Gopperth 31 - 25

 Scrappy game from Wasps and I think Dai will give t hem an earfull Monday morning.

 Did Halai miss the game due to failing concusion return to play protocall?

 ...not sure about Halai but Wade has been in such hot form, with a hat trick last week against Bath and another try today why would you not go with the form players...?..Wasps fortunate to have such great outside back depth with Basset also scoring a try in each of their Champions Cup games thus far ...
..who to pick out of Cipriani and Copperth is also a good headache for a coach to have. It looked a bit like they missed Launchbury's leadership today the way the Newcastle forwards were pushing them around ...thought the yellow card on Basset for his incidental touch of the ball was a bit harsh also...entertaining match all the same..

 I think Bassets card was more of a he took one for the team, same as Thompsons later. Agree on Cips and Gopperth headache. Just thought they might rest Wade with Leicester next and then back to European Cup. A big squad full of depth so easy to rotate players. Hope they manage to keep Simpson Daniel as word is he might be off to Gloucester.

Rugby back to the top.