Launchbury returns as Wasps stop the rot
Captain Joe Launchbury returned from injury as Wasps halted a five-match losing streak with a 27-16 Premiership defeat of Northampton Saints on Sunday.
Launchbury had been out since September due to knee and neck problems, but the lock helped Dai Young's struggling side stop the rot at the Ricoh Arena.
Wasps had lost nine of their previous 10 matches and had secured just one victory since September, yet they moved up to sixth spot by ending Northampton's run of four consecutive wins across all competitions.
Josh Bassett took a pass from Willie le Roux to put Wasps in front in the corner after strong carries from Brad Shields and Nizaam Carr, and Juan de Jongh raced onto his own grubber kick to add a second try, which Ahsee Tuala probably ought to have prevented.
Cobus Reinach laid on a first Saints try for Fraser Dingwall and Dan Biggar's third penalty just before half-time reduced the deficit to 17-16.
The outstanding Thomas Young had a try ruled out, but Taqele Naiyaravoro gifted Le Roux a score with an ill-advised attempted offload after Saints had got themselves out of the in-goal area with a couple of risky passes.
Lima Sopoaga converted and capped an excellent display of kicking by adding a penalty to take his tally to 12 points as Wasps lifted the gloom in Coventry.
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It’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
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