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Premiership Reaction - Friday

September 27 2008

Wasps boss Ian McGeechan claims the Experimental Law Variations are ruining the game despite his side's 28-19 victory over rivals Leicester.

Jeremy Staunton kicked 23 points for the visitors before Damien Varley's 68th-minute try secured their first win of the season at Welford Road.

But British and Irish Lions coach McGeechan admits the ELVs introduced by rugby's governing body, the International Rugby Board, have left coaches, players and referees confused.

"It's sad when you have to ask a team to stop playing the rugby they usually play," he said.

"You can't afford to play in your own half and I think Leicester adopted the same principles as we did by trying to keep it tight. It's very tough on referees as well because they have enough to think about.

"But our physicality was first-class and we never gave Leicester a platform to build on. We were also very disciplined when we didn't have the ball. I'm delighted to get the first win under our belts."

Heyneke Meyer's side refused to give up but after Flood had kicked Leicester back into the lead from 45 metres, Staunton restored Wasps' two-point lead.

But the visitors made sure of victory when substitute Varley crossed with Staunton's kick making it 28-19.

"We didn't play enough football and you certainly can't win any games if you don't play," said Meyer.

"I don't think we had a single set piece in their half in the second half and it is obviously going to be tough to score points if that is the case.

"The difference between the two sides tonight was that when they got into our half, they punished us by kicking their goals.

"But Leicester v Wasps games are always going to be very tactical and you have to expect a lot of kicking."

Top-of-the-table Sale became the first side in Guinness Premiership history to play four successive matches without conceding a try.

The Sharks blew woeful Gloucester away in the second half at Edgeley Park with fine tries from Sebastien Chabal and David Doherty helping them to a 23-9 win.

They have now won all four of their opening games of the new season and each victory has been chiselled on obstinate defending and a fierce desire not to have their line breached.

"I'm very pleased with the performance of the team," said boss Philippe Saint-Andre.

"I thought it was fantastic and we scored two great tries. I don't know how it could be 6-6 at half-time because we dominated.

"To not concede a try again is fantastic and the players worked so hard for each other. I'm very pleased.

"That's four wins out of four but we need to continue our run against London Irish next week."

Gloucester offered next to nothing in the way of attacking threat, despite fielding the likes of Ryan Lamb, Olly Barkley and Lesley Vainikolo.

And Sale showed far greater potency throughout and Wales scrum-half Dwayne Peel made a stellar contribution just seconds after his arrival from the bench in the 49th minute.

Victory was no more than Sale deserved on a night when Saint-Andre's men enhanced their title credentials in style and raised some serious questions marks about Gloucester's own aspirations.

However, Gloucester Head Coach Dean Ryan pinpointed the Sharks' kicking game as the deciding factor in defeat.

"I thought Charlie Hodgson's kicking was the main difference. They had someone who could kick and we didn't," he bluntly said.

Elsewhere, Newcastle Director of Rugby Steve Bates hailed Jonny Wilkinson after the fly-half became the Guinness Premiership's record points scorer.

Wilkinson kicked two conversions and a penalty in the 17-3 win over Bristol to take his points total to 1,482, two ahead of Andy Goode.

"When Jonny kicked that conversion from the touchline in the second half it was just what we needed," Bates said.

"It gave the team a big lift but that's what you get with Jonny. It's quite amazing that he has the record for points scoring in the Premiership considering how much rugby he has missed.

"We're very pleased with the result although we did make a few errors and we now go to Gloucester with confidence.

"We will keep our feet on the floor because while it was a good performance, it wasn't a vintage performance."

Bristol Head Coach Richard Hill also found time to pay tribute to Wilkinson after his side could only muster an Ed Barnes penalty on Friday.

"There's no-one like Jonny when he's playing behind a pack going forward and we contributed to our own downfall by making far too many mistakes," Hill said.

"I can't put my finger on why that happened and I'm at a bit of loss really after we played so well last week."