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Wasps thump Harlequins with 14 men
By Tom Webber
Wasps played over three quarters of their Premiership clash against Harlequins with 14 men but moved back into the top three with a 44-22 victory at Twickenham Stoop.
The visitors lost Kyle Eastmond in the 16th minute for a high shot on Quins fly-half Marcus Smith that prompted a series of altercations between the two sets of players, but they ran in four of their six tries despite the numerical disadvantage for a bonus-point win.
Wasps made a blistering start through scores from Juan de Jongh and Thomas Young inside the opening 10 minutes, but the hosts were handed a boost when Eastmond saw red for an out-of-control tackle.
Tries from Tim Visser and Aaron Morris brought Quins level early in the second period, but two in the space of three minutes for Wasps – Young getting his second before Willie le Roux finished a sweeping move – put them back on top.
England international Nathan Hughes made his first appearance since October having been sidelined by a knee injury before Tom Cruse and Charlie Matthews exchanged scores after Archie White was sent to the sin bin.
Josh Bassett dotted down a grubber from Danny Cipriani with four minutes remaining to complete a thoroughly impressive victory for Dai Young's side.
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Latest Comments
Yet Ethan Blackadder was one of our best against the World Champion Springbok. When he came back to the Crusaders later in the season , he made a huge difference, ( a long with others like Codie Taylor), we nearly made the Play Off's. Ethan has plenty of rugby left in him. His family , Dad Todd Blackadder must be very [proud of him. Todd Blackadder was a 3 time champion captain of the Crusaders, '98, '99 and 2000.An icon in this area. Also twice captain of Canterbury , '97 and 2001 when we won the NPC and Ranfurly Shield winning captain in 2000.
Go to commentsIt's the same criticism of Dmac and Mo'unga as well. Sadly the way the game has been heading recently it's the only way to break down a defence, and a player of Lawrences nature would have a very limited chance at doing that because he's too one dimensional.
Noah Lolesio is your sort of player and that worked OK, but only because his team is far more creative than Englands for example. The highly organized Irish attack was also another that didn't require much from the 10, but that is now changing with Prendergast who is in that league mold like the most new age 10's.
So it is in fact your two which would require even more change to make the most of than Marcus Smith.
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