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England prop Mullan leaves Wasps with 'immediate effect'

Matt Mullan leaving Wasps. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Wasps have confirmed that Matt Mullan has left the club with immediate effect and by mutual consent.

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Mullan, 31, joined Wasps in 2013 and made 128 appearances for the Club as well as earning 17 caps for England, but was unable to feature for Wasps this season whilst recovering from a knee injury.

Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “The Club wish Matt well with his next steps and thank him for his contribution to Wasps Rugby over the past five seasons.”

Mullan is ranked as the Gallagher Premiership’s 13th best loosehead prop in the RugbyPass Index, with an RPI of 68.

Meanwhile, winger Ambrose Curtis has departed the Club to join French Pro D2 side Vannes.

Curtis, 26, featured for Wasps A in the Premiership Rugby Shield and made one first-team appearance in the Premiership Rugby Cup against Northampton Saints in November.

Young added: “We’d like to thank Ambrose for his efforts and professionalism during his time at Wasps and wish him all the best in the future.”

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Meanwhile, Wasps backs Ross Neal and Rob Miller return to the starting line-up ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup clash with Bath at The Rec.

Winger Neal has recovered from a hip knock to replace Elliot Daly, who is forced to have a rest week after his participation in England’s Autumn internationals, while Miller steps in for Willie Le Roux (neck) at full back to make his first appearance for the first-team since November’s win over Bristol Rugby.

Number eight Nathan Hughes is also restored to the starting 15 for the first time since early December while lock Charlie Matthews comes into the replacements.

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Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “Last weekend was a big step up across the board. Now we want to try and build some continuity.

“We want to keep our performances on an upward curve and hopefully that’ll end with some positive results for us as you want to get into a habit of winning.

“Although we can’t make the knockout stages, these European matches are still important to the players.

“This is their livelihood, their job and although there won’t be that edge like in a cup final, they’ve still got to do their job, respect the jersey and go out there to win.

“It’s as simple as that and I don’t expect to see anything other than us going out to play to the best of our ability.”

Wasps team v Bath (First-team appearances):
15 Rob Miller (92)
14 Ross Neal (8)
13 Michele Campagnaro (4)
12 Juan de Jongh (37)
11 Josh Bassett (92)
10 Lima Sopoaga (15)
9 Dan Robson (93)
1 Zurabi Zhvania (14)
2 Tom Cruse (50)
3 Will Stuart (23)
4 Joe Launchbury (c) (133)
5 Will Rowlands (64)
6 Brad Shields (8)
7 Thomas Young (101)
8 Nathan Hughes (117)

Replacements:
16 Antonio Harris (13)
17 Ben Harris (35)
18 Jake Cooper-Woolley (122)
19 Charlie Matthews (8)
20 Nizaam Carr (24)
21 Craig Hampson (26)
22 Billy Searle (9)
23 Gaby Lovobalavu (22)

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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
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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