The 2017 Premiership Rugby Final between Wasps and Exeter Chiefs will go down in history as one of the most spell-binding and dramatic that we've seen. However, that will console the losing side little and for those that weren't thrown straight into international or British & Irish Lions action the hurt following that loss will have taken a number of weeks to settle.
“Obviously we’d like to go one better, we were pretty proud of finishing top at the end of the season (although you don’t get anything for that). But, you can’t help but feel hugely disappointed and frustrated that we didn’t quite get our hands on it.”
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Last season not all of Wasps’ knockout rugby experiences were positive - Leinster away at the AVIVA Stadium in Europe - highlighted a fragility however their account of themselves at Twickenham Stadium come May showed how the squad had learned their lessons quickly. When sides pick up lessons at the first time of asking then it’s a hugely positive and when the disappointment settled that will have pleased their DOR greatly.
“What we did last year probably won’t be good enough so we have to improve.”
Dai Young’s comment above could have been said by any Director of Rugby, coach or player in the Aviva Premiership because as always the competition and individuals are moving forward at a rate of knots. The Coventry based side are settled in terms of their squad, and rightly so too, as they are quite early still when it comes to their time together as a a group of players. This season should be about tweaking and nailing certain elements as opposed to changing anything too drastically. Specifically for Wasps it’s about pulling their set piece and defensive output up to the lofty heights of their attack because if they do European and Premiership finals will be eminently achievable. The statistics show you exactly what needs to be done, last season Wasps conceded 61 tries in 22 rounds, comparatively Saracens conceded just 28, so tightening up that area even just a touch should see them take clear steps forward. However their DOR is clear that steps forward in these areas won't be taken at the expense of what makes them unique already.
“We pretty much broke most of the records last year in attack but teams have had another year now to have a look at us and they will try and put pressure on us in that department. So we have to maintain where we stand in attack and we have to improve our set piece and our defence really which will give us another edge. That doesn’t mean that we’re going to flip everything on its head, we’re going going to become a set piece orientated team or a defence team overnight.”
So, the long and the short of it is that I believe that evolution and not revolution will be the name of the game for Wasps. Of course injuries are always a concern with any squad though and losing Tommy Taylor for a good chunk of the early season is a blow alongside missing others in the first weeks - the likes of Sam Jones, Kyle Eastmond, James Haskell and Thomas Young. However last season they showed that their squad has great strength in depth and it will be time to do the same from the word go. Without question Dai Young and Wasps will have their sights on honours of the highest domestic order come May 2018 and I for one am excited to see where they can take their game this season.
Opening Six Premiership Matches: Sale Sharks (H), Worcester Warriors (A), Harlequins (H), Exeter Chiefs (A), Bath Rugby (H) and Saracens (A).
Champions Cup Group: Pool 1 Wasps, La Rochelle, Ulster Rugby and Harlequins
Key Player: Jimmy Gopperth. No surprises here that I’m highlighting the Premiership Player of the Season, while boosting defence will be a focus this man is vital to ignite the talent housed in their back line while showing off his impressive skills.
