Last weekend Wasps dismantled the powerful Leicester machine, showing a clear path for international teams wondering how on earth to beat the all conquering All Blacks in this year’s World Cup.
Make no mistake, Leicester are not the All Blacks of provincial rugby. But as a base comparison goes, this year’s squad do the All Blacks no injustice. Leicester’s domination of Gloucester in the Guinness Premiership final had something regal about it. They didn’t just expect to win the game – they expected to win it comfortably and with style. This attitude is rarely seen outside of an All Black jumper.
Leicester’s first team has great forward play, a set of halves willing to attack and a backline with the kind of firepower most Super 14 teams can only dream of. The Tigers also possess the most important quality required to do well across the national and international club competitions – depth. Where Leicester had enough depth to contest three competitions, New Zealand probably have enough depth to enter two teams in this years world cup and expect both to be favourites.
Wasps however do not currently possess the depth of Leicester. Nor does their first team match the talent of Leicester’s. Wasps made no apologies for targeting the Heineken Cup this year rather than trying to stretch their top team week-in week-out across the three competitions. It was European Cup glory or nothing.
Faced in the final against a team with superior attacking firepower and flair, Wasps victory was a well studied one. Paul Sackey never allowed giant Samoan winger, Alesana Tuilagi more than a couple of steps to build up speed and Sackey’s team-mates never left him to tackle Tuilagi by himself. Wasps fly half, Alex King, kicked with great precision putting the ball over the heads of Leicester’s dangerous back three, rather than down their throats.
By doing so, Leicester were effectively disabled of their counter-attacking weapons. Wasps’ stifling defence was reminiscent of that employed by South African teams – relentless and at times bordering on illegal.
The overall scrum contest was decisively won by the Tigers, led brilliantly by props Julian White and Argentina’s Marcos Ayerza. Enduring a man-handling on their own feeds the Wasps forwards did just enough to secure their own ball. However, they overcame this set back by devoting themselves to fighting tooth and nail to spoil every Leicester ruck and maul. Lawrence Dallaglio led the counter-rucking charges, catching a Leicester team, which had seemingly taken recycled ball for granted, by surprise
Every time Leicester looked like cashing in on a few good phases the Wasps forwards somehow found a way to force a turnover. It happened with such regularity that before the first half was done Leicester had lost all confidence in themselves, looking flat and frustrated. Conversely the hungry and energetic Wasps continued to apply the pressure by converting penalties into points until there was nothing left for Leicester to do but wait for it all to end.
It was a triumph of graft and well executed plans. Without the talent pool, firepower or depth to match the All Blacks, the Wallabies coach would do well to follow the Wasps blueprint; make sure your kicks find touch, stick to their big guns like gum to a shoe, contest everything contest every time and most importantly save your big game for when it really counts.
[pic via BBC]
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