Four penalties and two conversions from Andy Goode in Wasps’ win over a badly disciplined Bath last week might indicate to Leinster one of their starting points this weekend. Don’t give the 34-year-old veteran outhalf any opportunity.
In the back line Wasps have gas in Christian Wade, Tom Varndell and others but in the centre they also have Elliot Daly, who arrives to the spiritual home of Brian O’Driscoll at the RDS with hopes of emulating Ireland’s most decorated player.
Speaking to The Rugby Paper in June, Daly, who was also on the books with Surrey cricket and played at 13 last week in the Bath win, outlined what he admired so much about the former Irish captain.
“Growing up, Brian O’Driscoll is the one person I’ve followed more than anyone,” said the Wasps centre.
“He creates things out of nothing, is always really solid in attack and defence and never seems to make any mistakes. He’s got a few tricks in his locker too, which I like, and that’s what I want to get into my game and get up to the level of.
“I want to be up there as one of the best defensive centres. I’ve been working hard on that and if I can aspire to reach the level of O’Driscoll, that’s not a bad role model to have, is it.”
Starting pack
Having watched Wasps last week, coach Matt O’Connor knows the threat they will bring to the RDS. They have strong finishers with Italian fullback Andrea Masi, Wade, Varndell and Samoan international Sailosi Tagicakibau, who scored one of the tries in Adams Park.
With James Haskell and Joe Launchbury, who was involved in a car crash en route to High Wycombe at the weekend, likely to be among the starting pack, they pack plenty of punch.
“They scrummaged very well,” observed O’Connor. “Goode kicked all his goals and they took their opportunities to score from unstructured possession very, very well. So from that end you can’t afford to give them momentum.
“They’ve got a very, very good back row that gets them over the gain line, their half-backs manage the game quite well for them and they have got as good finishers as there are in the game. It’s a pretty clear picture of the things that we need to deliver on.”
Tighthead prop Mike Ross is back in the mix for Leinster and O’Connor says he trained quite well this week.
A couple of guys who hadn’t played, backline players Zane Kirchner, Rob Kearney and Noel Reid got game time last week while Josh van der Flier got valuable minutes in the back row.
But there were some signs the former Leicester Tigers assistant coach was feeling some pressure in the run in. The issue of Luke Fitzgerald’s groin and abdominal injury, which was operated on at the end of last season, has been an ongoing saga and the talented back is still unavailable to play.
Ronan O’Gara reasonably observed this week that Fitzgerald needs to present himself on the pitch for a competitive match soon if he wants to get into the Ireland squad.
“Is he picking the team? Is he picking the team for the World Cup? He’s on a ban, isn’t he, no?” replied O’Connor. The coach added that Fitzgerald could be playing in a matter of weeks, a line that has been ringing hollow since last season. But that being the case, could Fitzgerald be back for the November internationals?
“Depends if Rog picks him, I don’t know. You’d have to ring Rog,” said O’Connor dismissively.
Fit enough
Surely if a player is fit enough for Leinster he is fit enough for the Irish base at Carton House?
“I don’t make that call,” said O’Connor adding: “It’s certainly not what he needs. He doesn’t need to be anywhere near the joint, he needs to be here. But, whatever...”
The Fitzgerald issue will not go away. O’Connor, however, could say that Ben T’eo would soon be pulling on a Leinster shirt. “He will get rugby over the next two weeks,” he said. “That’s a certainty.”
