‘Old man’ Dan calls on Wasps kids to step up

By JON NEWCOMBE

PREVIEW…

Gloucester v Wasps

Today. Kick-off 3pm, Kingsholm

Dan Robson is embracing his “old man” status at the club as a more youthful-looking Wasps aim to put this summer's money troubles behind them with an opening day win at Gloucester.

Wasps won 27-21 at Robson's former club last season, on their way to a ninth-place finish, with the livewire scrum-half slotting the second drop-goal of his career, his first having also come against the Cherry & Whites.

“It was the first time since I've been at Wasps that we have won there,” Robson said. “It is always a tough place to go and they have got that Gloucester way of playing back, and they have the support and everything else.

“For us, it is about not taking a backward step. We've watched a few clips from last season and we were pretty much out on our feet at the end. That's what it takes to win there.

“We are looking forward to it, it is a challenge to go away first game, we've not had that for a couple of years, but we'll go there fighting.”

Wasps had a bye in round one last year and Robson admits it was something of a short straw.

“The first week is always the worst (to have a bye) because you don't get any time off because you are in training preparing for your first game so it's always a bit of a short straw,” he admitted.

“It was tough last year to watch everyone and have that extra build-up so it is nice this year that we can get stuck straight in, and what better game to start than Gloucester away? It is mouth-watering and we're all excited for it.”

Wasps have had a cloud hanging over them all summer after defaulting on payments to bond investors, as well as other issues such as the state of the Ricoh Arena pitch which led to another very public dispute with Coventry City.

Robson, 30, has been around the block to know not to let off-field factors affect him too much but for some of his younger teammates, talk of recruitment being suspended and wages under threat would have been an unwelcome and worrying distraction.

“I've been here for a long time and we are quite used to having negativity thrown at us, whether it is Cov City stuff or whatever,” he said. “We just get on with it and it is down to us, as leaders, to take that on board and make sure the players concentrate on what they need to be doing – and that's making sure we perform, playing that exciting brand of rugby that puts bums on seats and making sure the club is in a good place.

“It's tough when it is pre-season and there's all that chatter. We feel that we are bit helpless because we are coming in every day and training but not being able to do anything about it. So it will be nice to go out on the weekend and put on the Wasps shirt again and show what we are about, and hopefully show the club in a good light again.”

As well as proving a welcome distraction, a win at Gloucester would also be a shot in the arm for a revamped squad that is missing the experience of such characters as Jimmy Gopperth (Leicester), Malakai Fekitoa (Munster), Thomas Young (Cardiff) and Rob Miller (released).

It is time for the likes of Charlie Atkinson, Will Porter, Sam Spink and Ali Crossdale and the new signing from Newcastle, Will Haydon-Wood, to step forward, says Robson.

“We've got a few new faces, it feels different. A lot of experienced lads that have been here a long time have left and we've got a lot of young lads, academy lads, who have made the step up this year. I feel like the old man of the group, unfortunately, especially in that backline. But it's good and exciting, they are bringing in a lot of new ideas and energy.

“It does have an impact (losing so much experience) but it is down to us to make sure it is not a negative one. There are a lot of younger guys who got a lot of game time last year and they are just going to have to step up this year into those leadership roles and really take the bull by the horns. If pre-season is anything to go by we're in a good place because those lot have been outstanding.”

Ready for battle: Robson says Wasps will go to Kingsholm in fighting mode

PICTURE: Getty Images