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'We wanted to send out a statement, wanted to almost shock them with our physicality'

(Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)

Wasps boss Lee Blackett was beaming following his team’s five-try, 34-5 demolition of reigning Premiership champions Exeter ten weeks after they agonisingly gave second best to the Chiefs in the 2019/20 at Twickenham. Exeter came into Saturday’s round five match at The Ricoh on top of the table following four bonus-point wins from four in the new 2020/21 season.

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However, they were given a second-half lesson as Wasps transformed an 8-0 interval lead into a comprehensive 29-point triumph with a power-packed closing 30 minutes.

The result lifted Wasps into fourth place on the table, just six points behind Exeter who now host Bristol, who are joint top with them on 20 points, in the next round at Sandy Park next weekend.  

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Wasps out-half Jacob Umaga guests on RugbyPass All Access

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Wasps out-half Jacob Umaga guests on RugbyPass All Access

Speaking in the aftermath of their thumping win over Chiefs, Wasps boss Blackett told BT Sport: “We wanted to send out a statement today physically. That was a massive focus, we wanted to almost shock them with our physicality and I was really pleased. 

“In the first half, the frustrating thing was we put a bit of ball down when we had opportunities but our physicality was right up there. 

“We know they were missing a few key guys for them up front but still this Exeter team went to Harlequins and put 30 points on them at the start of the season. They put 40 points on at home to Bath. This was a good Exeter team no matter what side they put out but we felt selection wise we have not often gone with (James) Gaskell at six but we went with as big a pack as we possibly could and we wanted to take them on there.”

Exeter boss Rob Baxter refuted that Wasps had done anything to shock the Chiefs, the coach instead accepting his team didn’t play well and would never have deserved to win a game where the penalty count was 16-5 and one yellow card against them. 

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“I don’t think we were shocked,” said Baxter after hearing Blackett’s physicality comment. “We didn’t play well enough. There is a reality in rugby that it is a pretty honest sport and you tend to win games you deserve to win and you tend to lose games you deserve to lose. 

“That is what I said to the lads, that is what today felt like. We didn’t deserve to win because we didn’t play well enough… I have to say, ‘Well done, Wasps’. They created issues for us today and capitalised on their opportunities way better than we did. 

“They stopped us at times when we expect to be better and score and once the scoreboard opened up they capitalised on that as well. A lot of credit to them. Our job is to have a look at ourselves but we are certainly not in any kind of panic.

“I’m not trying to find sort of clever reason why we lost. We will look at the basics of our game and we will improve them… you just want to approach them head-on and be honest about them and that is what we will do.” 

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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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