Wasps explain Barbeary op logic, give verdict on Koch's first week

Wasps have explained why they decided to have the hamstring injury sustained by England hopeful Alfie Barbeary operated on rather than allow him to go through a non-surgical rehab that would have seen him back on the field quicker. 

The recently turned 22-year-old looked tasty in his opening matches this season versus Gloucester and Bristol, but he limped off 60 minutes into that later appearance last month and coach Lee Blackett reported at the time that the back-rower was looking at between a ten and 16-week layoff, dashing his hopes of involvement with England in the Autumn Nations Series. 

It was last week when Barbeary posted a picture on his Instagram showing him on crutches being discharged from the Prince Grace Hospital in London and Wasps boss Blackett explained at his media briefing ahead of this Sunday’s game at home to Northampton why it was decided that the youngster required surgery.    

“When I was saying ten to 16 weeks after the game (versus Bath on September 23), there was a decision to be made whether he had the operation or not. The operation was the higher bandwidth. For recurrence and the chances of it we decided it was best that he had the operation.”

Blackett was asked if this was the type of procedure that Barbeary had done before on his hamstring, but he wasn’t fully sure. “I probably should know 100 per cent. I believe he had similar in the academy but I’m not 100 per cent on that. But I believe when he was an 18-year-old in the academy he might have done.

“The percentage difference between reoccurrence was a lot less (by having an operation). It was far higher if we did it the conservative way. Yes, he would have been back quicker but there was a bigger chance of a reoccurrence so this way is a lot less.”

While Barbeary will be absent for Wasps for the foreseeable future, they have been boosted this week by the arrival of Springboks tighthead Vincent Koch. It was last December when the South African agreed to join from Saracens but it was only this week that he started work at Wasps due to his Rugby Championship commitments.  

First impressions? “He will be available for Sunday. He came in and did his first scrum session Wednesday and his first full team session out there. He did Tuesday’s session as well but our main session, he did his first one Wednesday. It’s an exciting time having him in the environment. A quality player. Quality person as well.”