Black Day for RFU

Last weekend saw the second leg of back to back matches in the Heineken Cup group stages in which the English teams had mixed results, although there was no lack of controversy.

Leicester were always going to lose to Toulouse in France as French teams seem to be almost unbeatable on 'la terre Francais'.

Illustrated by London Irish getting done over in Perpignan in snowy conditions. Although a flying elbow from Englishman Perry Freshwater, which left London Irish flanker Kieran Roche with a broken cheekbone, stole the headlines.
Gloucester continued their imperious form by bludgeoning Bourgoin 51-27 at Kingsholm, they now look set for a home quater-final.

Ryan Lamb was once again man of the match, and today's news that the CPS have dropped their case against him for public affray will give the Cherry-Whites some Christmas cheer.

Black Sting

The highlight of the weekend though was at Adams Park, where London Wasps held on to beat Clermont Auvergne 25-24.

Wasps dominated the first half under the magical control of prodigous new talent, Danny Cipriani.

Three scintilating tries and a penalty put Wasps in total control at half-time, 22-0. But the second half was a different story.

As Wasps went for the kill, they were twice caught on the break, once by Rougerie and once by Delasau.

But the real drama came on the hour when a fight broke out on the touchline, Jamie Cudmore rained down the punches onto the head of Wasps prop, Tim Payne.

As the fight spilled into the hoardings, a Wasps fan leant over and tried to wallop anything French with his programme. This man was Alan Black, a RFU employee, former Wasps captain and club member! He has since apologised and been given a season long ban from England and Premiership games.

Bonus Blunders

On the pitch Wasps contrived to give away the losing bonus point to Clermont as the French team scored a last minute try.

That means three points squandered in the double header, after throwing away a losing bonus point of their own last week, and the double wammy of missing the four try bonus and the losing bonus this week.

A win is a win though and two more against Llanelli (home) and Munster (away) will see them through to the quater finals which should be laden with English teams.