McGeechan: 'We couldn't cope'
Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:56
Wasps director of rugby Ian McGeechan admitted his beleaguered Guinness Premiership champions missed the nine internationals who were absent for the 32-10 away defeat to London rivals Harlequins.
Wasps were without their stars because of international calls and were made to pay by Harlequins who left the visitors one point off the bottom of the table.
McGeechan admitted: "It does make a difference with the experience that's there.
"We know we always have the biggest challenge when international rugby is on."
But McGeechan claimed his side should have done better against a Harlequins outfit whose victory took them up to second in the table.
"We missed too many tackles in the first half and had a mountain to climb after that.
"The players stuck at it and did better in the second half but we have to do it for 80 minutes.
"There were a lot of easy points given away - six penalties. We will look at what we are doing. at the moment. We aren't happy with some of the things."
Reflecting on Wasps' league position, he said: "No other team is going to help us. We have to make sure we concentrate on what we are doing and make sure we are competitive and accurate, which we weren't in the first half."
His Harlequins counterpart Dean Richards, with five potential starters on international duty and half a dozen injured, had to make another change two hours before kick-off when winger Seb Stegmann dropped out with flu.
But the reshuffle in the backs resulted in match-winner Nick Evans switching to fullback from flyhalf for his injury-delayed home debut.
The former All Black contributed 19 points and Wasps never recovered from his stunning first half try.
But Richards said: "It wasn't just about him and his finishing. It was the quality of the rugby that led up to it.
"Our scrum dominated their their scrum which must have been disappointing for them.
"The brand of rugby we are playing at the moment gives you an idea of the feeling in the camp."
Richards said of the the absence of his own stars: "You always miss them but it's an opportunity for other people which some of these young guys have taken."
With thanks to www.guinnesspremiership.com
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