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Barbeary strikes late to tip a see-saw match in favour of Wasps

By PA
(Photo by Paul Devlin/SNS Group via Getty Images)

Alfie Barbeary’s late try helped Wasps secure a dramatic 34-30 victory over Edinburgh in a rip-roaring Challenge Cup quarter-final tie at the DAM Health Stadium. The match swung both ways throughout and it looked like the hosts – who had led at the break  – were about to shade it when they got their noses back in front in the 73rd minute.

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But two minutes later, the Gallagher Premiership side produced the decisive moment of a pulsating encounter as Barbeary forced his way over for the seventh try of the afternoon. Wasps will face the winners of Saturday evening’s last-eight tie between Lyon and Glasgow in next weekend’s semi-final.

Wasps got the first points on the scoreboard after seven minutes when Jimmy Gopperth kicked a penalty from a central position, but Edinburgh responded with a successfully-executed penalty of their own two minutes later when Emiliano Boffelli kicked between the posts.

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The hosts soon seized the initiative when Ben Vellacott touched down for the game’s first try at the end of a move down the right channel sparked by Luke Crosbie and involving Adam McBurney and Boffelli, who made the conversion.

Wasps drew level again after 16 minutes when Gopperth eventually forced his way over next to the posts after Edinburgh initially looked to have repelled a sustained period of pressure close to the line. The try scorer duly kicked the conversion.

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The fast-paced, end-to-end nature of the game continued and McBurney restored Edinburgh’s lead in the 25th minute when he was at the end of a rolling maul after Jamie Hodgson got up to secure a good lineout ball for the hosts. Boffelli was again on target with his conversion.

Wasps enjoyed some intense pressure in the lead-up to half-time but the home side dug deep to ensure they went in at the interval holding a 17-10 advantage. Edinburgh looked to have tightened their grip on proceedings when Boffelli kicked a penalty just two minutes after the restart. But the visitors came right back into it after 44 minutes when Biyi Alo powered his way over the line for his side’s second try of the match, with Gopperth adding the conversion.

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Wasps then evened the scores up again at 20-20 when Gopperth clipped a penalty between the sticks in the 49th minute. The Coventry-based outfit got themselves in front in the 57th minute as Tom West pushed his way over following more pressure around the Edinburgh posts. Gopperth did the honours once more with the conversion.

Just as Edinburgh looked to be reeling, however, they got themselves back into it when Magnus Bradbury raced in under the posts after being fed by Chris Dean following a lineout in the 66th minute. Boffelli chipped the conversion over from close range. The hosts edged themselves back in front in the 73rd minute when Boffelli kicked a penalty from the 40-metre line.

Edinburgh’s bid to cling on was dealt a blow when Connor Boyle was sin-binned with five minutes remaining and they were made to pay when Barbeary immediately forced over after Wasps won a lineout close to the try line. Gopperth converted and the visitors duly withstood some intense late pressure to seal their place in the last four.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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