Richardson’s good times continue to roll at Wasps

When Wasps moved to the Ricoh Arena in October 2014 I rather cynically wrote that new owner Derek Richardson had perhaps only taken control of Wasps to get his hands on this piece of prime real estate on the outskirts of Coventry (no really – the development opportunities were and are huge).

A year and a few months later and he’s made me look like a bit of a plonker – Wasps are continuing to invest heavily in their squad and Richardson seems more committed than ever in propelling them into the European elite. Of course to many fans from West London there will still be bitterness at the club upping sticks from its traditional home – but few could argue that, from the standpoint of a professional sports team, the move hasn’t been a resounding success.

Their results have been inconsistent this season, sure; sporadic moments of pure class, like the win over Toulon at home and the recent utter demolition job at Allianz Park, have been tempered by some garbage – the home pummelling by Exeter, for example. But the recent news (reported this morning in the Daily Telegraph) that they are courting David Pocock shows that they want more. For a club that was so nearly relegated as recently as 2014, it is a huge statement.

Pocock is amongst the very best players in the world – of that there is no doubt. His immense core strength and limpet-like ability have always marked him out as a potential great, but the recent law changes around neck and crocodile rolls (essentially outlawing the former) mean he has an almost unique value at the breakdown. He almost single-handedly transformed a good Australian team into one that verged on great.

So, that Wasps are ready to make him the best paid player in the world shows their desire to elevate themselves to the next level. How Pocock himself reacts to their courting remains to be seen, although it is believed that he enjoyed his time in England during the World Cup – and he is of course considering a postgrad degree at Oxford or Cambridge, that he may be able to work in somehow a la Jamie Roberts.

The Pocock news comes hot on the back of an actual confirmed signing in Coventry – Danny Cipriani will return to the club at which he forged his reputation all those years ago. It is a hugely intriguing move, after the rumour mill tended to suggest that he would be making South London his home by joining Harlequins.

That mill has been back in action since Cipriani was confirmed as returning to Wasps. There have been suggestions that certain senior players at Quins vetoed the move, after having worked with Cipriani before. That seems unlikely, not least because it would be very rare in the modern game for players themselves to have that sort of power.

Joe Marler – one of the most senior men at the club – also tweeted the below, which would certainly indicate a sense of betrayal felt by Quins players, rather than any joy at Cipriani moving elsewhere.

Gutted you're not coming to join us @DannyCipriani87 pic.twitter.com/GSgQwBxA2U

— Joe Marler (@JoeMarler) February 11, 2016

Much more likely is that Cipriani was unnerved by the void left by Conor O’Shea’s departure at the end of the season – and more specifically, the rumours that Stuart Lancaster might be arriving to fill it.

Cipriani and Lancaster’s relationship has always been a strained one, from their Saxons days when the fly-half was a headstrong teenager who didn’t show the man in charge enough respect. I’d argue that Lancaster never seemed to get over that, despite signs that Cipriani has left that attitude in the past. He has been at the helm of a resurgent Sale team in the past few years, and yet still never really had a proper look-in with England.

His move to Wasps offers him one last chance to convince new coach Eddie Jones that he still has an England future. At the age of 28, he could have opted for more lucrative offers in France. But with Wasps on an upward trend (especially if Pocock signs), his move to Coventry could be the best decision he ever makes. Now how many people can truthfully say that?

By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43