Venue: Ricoh Arena
Date: October 4th 2015
Fixture: Pre-season friendly
Line-ups:
Wasps:
Matt Mullan
Ashley Johnson
Jake Cooper-Woolley
James Gaskell
James Cannon
Sam Jones
George Smith
Guy Thompson
Joe Simpson
Jimmy Gopperth
Sailosi Tagicakibau
Brendan Macken
Elliot Daly
Christian Wade
Rob Miller
Saints:
Foden
Packman
Burrell
Collins
Myler
L Dickson
Waller
Hartley
Denman
S Dickinson
Day
Gibson
Clark
Fisher
Review:
It was Wasps’ final pre-season friendly before the Aviva Premiership starts again. Over 8,000 fans were at the Ricoh Arena to witness the ordeal that, on paper, would’ve been a close match.
Before the match started there was a one minute silence, for those who were killed or injured in the recent bus crash in Coventry City Centre.
This was the final chance for newcomers from either side to get into rhythm with their new team.
Wasps took an early lead through a Jimmy Gopperth penalty, the ex-Leinster number ten awarding Wasps a three point lead.
The match was soon reverted back to equal points as Saints’ number ten JJ Hanrahan scored a penalty.
Wasps looked deadly, pressuring Saints for long periods of time, but were unlucky not to find themselves on the other side of the try-line.
Wade was unlucky not to score an early try, getting tackled at the 22.
Gopperth put Wasps back in front with a 30 metre kick, soon after a threat from Sailosi Tagicakibau was broke down close to the try-line.
Saints then started to threat Wasps, snapping up a loose ball from a Wasps’ pass. An attack led toJames Elliott landing a try, only for it to be ruled out by referee Simon Harding.
Wasps back row player George Smith required lengthy care before being escorted off the field due to an injury – he was replaced by Thomas Young.
Rob Miller joined in on the action, receiving a perfectly timed pass from Tagicakibau. Miller was sent down the left before sending an inside pass to Young, who was stopped just short of the Saints’ try-line.
Following a breakdown, Northampton captain Lee Dickson was sent to the sin-bin. Wasps went for a scrum rather than a penalty kick, after a few attempts Wasps finally got the ball out. A pass to Wade saw him fail to reach the try-line, soon a long pass sailed out of play and half-time was called.
Ben Jacobs replaced Elliot Daly for the second half, but that didn’t stop Saints from almost scoring a try straight from the restart. Luther Burrell was sent into touch after Jamie Elliott broke clear of Wasps’ defence.
Wasps were penalised from a scrum, Stephen Myler took a penalty to equalise for Saints, the score being at 6-6.
However, Brendan Macken found Wade in space. Wade shrugged off a tackle just short of the line, only to re-gather himself and land the first try of the match. Gopperth calmly converted the try. Wasps 13-6 Saints. (50 minutes)
Saints soon broke an attack of their own, Jon Fisher ran through the Wasps’ defence following a lineout. Myler’s conversion meant that the Saints had equalised. 13-13.
Quickly after their first try, Luther Burrell intercepted a pass from Wasps’ ten-metre line. Burrell ran for the try-line, with no pressure whatsoever. Myler again converted the try in front of the posts.
Wasps did get another three points through a Gopperth penalty.
Wade nearly got his second try of the match before the next move was stopped on the try-line. Two scrum penalties led to Thomas Young receiving the ball, touching down on the try-line. Ruaridh Jackson’s conversion put Wasps back in front. 23-20 (73 minutes)
Saints started piling on the pressure, in the final minutes Tom Collins received the ball on the left and went over the try-line; winning the match for Northampton. Myler took his time with his conversion, so much that it was the final kick of the match. Saints pressure awarded them with a last-minute win.
Final score: Wasps 23-27 Northampton Saints
