Wasps 2022-23 season preview - prediction, signings, ones to watch
Wasps will be hoping to put a tough off-season behind them and let their rugby do the talking
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The 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership runners-up go into the new campaign determined to focus on on-field matters.
The Coventry-based side haven’t had an easy off-season as they prepare for their third year under Lee Blackett.
The former Premiership champions have had dialogue with Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs over an unpaid tax bill, had a dispute over the quality of the pitch at the Coventry Building Society Arena with tenants Coventry City and have asked for millions of pounds of public money as financial strains build on their stadium business.
All these difficulties will have been an unwelcome distraction for Blackett and his squad who are trying to get back into the Heineken Champions Cup once again.
The Wasps boss, however, did share some positive news with fans at the end of last month, confirming the club is back in the market for players after some big name departures this summer, whilst Wasps have also told investors they are close to repaying some of their multimillion-pound debts.
So after some unwanted headlines, how will they fare when the rugby begins?
Last time out
Wasps finished last season in ninth place, just missing out on a spot in Europe’s top-tier competition.
It was an up-and-down campaign for Wasps last time out as they won 11 games, but lost 12 in an injury-ravaged year.
They struggled to have any consistency with key players such as Jack Willis, Paulo Odogwu and Joe Launchbury all having spells on the sidelines so they will be looking to make a better start this season after only picking up three wins from the opening eight fixtures in 2021-22.
They will also be hoping they don’t start this year like they finished the last as they didn’t win any of their final three games.
Incomings
Vincent Koch (Tighthead Prop) from Saracens
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Centre) from Cardiff Rugby
Burger Odendaal (Centre) from Lions
Kiran McDonald (Back Row) from Glasgow Warriors
John Ryan (Tighthead Prop) from Munster
Will Haydon-Wood (Fly-half) from Newcastle Falcons
Cam Dodson (Second Row) from Austin Gilgronis
Outgoings
Thomas Young (Back Row) to Cardiff Rugby
Vaea Fifita (Second Row) to Scarlets
Malakai Fekitoa (Centre) to Munster
Jimmy Gopperth (Centre) to Leicester Tigers
Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen (Tighthead Prop) to Ulster
Marcus Watson (Full-back) to Benetton
Pieter Scholtz (Tighthead Prop) to Bayonne
James Gaskell (Second Row) released
Rob Miller (Full-back) released
Cameron Anderson (Centre) released
Areas of strength
When looking at this Wasps squad, it is hard to ignore the degree of strength in the tighthead prop area.
The Black and Gold’s recruitment team were clearly focused on this position this summer as they brought in the classy Vincent Koch and 24-capped Irish international John Ryan.
Add these two experienced operators to an on-the-up Biyi Alo, and you possibly have the strongest tighthead prop contingent in the Premiership.
Alo, himself, will be looking to keep the place he earned last season, as he started the last 16 matches for Wasps, which saw him gain a first England call-up in the process.
The return of Jack ‘the jackler’ Willis is a massive boost to this squad too.
The 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership Player of the Season will be back to his best as he tries to regain a spot in Eddie Jones’ World Cup squad.
The starting back row for Wasps is sure to put the fear of god into any attack or defence this season. The power of Alfie Barbeary and Jack’s brother Tom at number 8 will gain the Black and Gold huge metres, combined with the poaching ability of Willis senior.
This trio will be Wasps’ main strength.
Areas of weakness
This Wasps team has lost a lot of experience and Premiership veterans going into this new season.
The departure of 39-year-old Jimmy Gopperth cannot be underestimated. The New Zealander has been a talismanic figure at Wasps during his seven years at the club where he racked up nearly 800 Premiership points.
His leadership will be a huge miss for the whole squad but especially for the likes of Jacob Umaga and Charlie Atkinson, who would have gained valuable insight under the tutelage of Gopperth once again.
He also leaves a hole in the centre position at the Coventry Building Society Stadium.
With Gopperth, Malakai Fekitoa and Michael Le Bourgeois all leaving this summer, the return of Paulo Odogwu and Ryan Mills will be much needed and the signings of Burger Odendaal and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will add depth.
These additions have, of course, added bodies to a weak area of the squad, but it seems unlikely they will bring the same skill and quality that Gopperth and Fekitoa brought to Wasps’ midfield in the past couple of seasons.
Another area where Wasps look a bit light is the full-back position.
Ali Crossdale showed great promise in his first season last time out and Matteo Minozzi is a fan favourite in Coventry.
The problem though will arise when Minozzi goes away with Italy leaving Crossdale as the only out-and-out full-back in the squad.
Last season, they had Marcus Watson and Rob Miller who filled the No15 jersey well, but they have both moved on to pastures new leaving Wasps with a depth conundrum.
Another weakness in this squad which is going under the radar is the injury to Elliot Stooke.
Wasps’ Player of the Season last time out could be on the sidelines until the New Year and with only four other senior second rows, Blackett’s options may be stretched to the limit until then.
Opening fixtures
Round 1: Gloucester (A)
Round 2: Bristol Bears (H)
Round 3: Bath (A)
Round 4: Northampton Saints (H)
Round 5: Exeter Chiefs (A)
Wasps start their season at Gloucester, a team that finished with momentum behind them in 2021-22.
A home clash with Bristol will test the heart of this Wasps team before a trip to Bath. The visit of Northampton Saints follows and they conclude their first five games with an away fixture against Exeter Chiefs.
Predicted line-up
1. Tom West
2. Gabriel Oghre
3. Vincent Koch
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Elliot Stooke
6. Alfie Barbeary
7. Jack Willis
8. Tom Willis
9. Dan Robson
10. Jacob Umaga
11. Josh Bassett
12. Ryan Mills
13. Paulo Odogwu
14. Zach Kibirige
15. Ali Crossdale
Predicted finish: 11th
Looking at the squad Wasps now have, it is clear to see they have been weakened in the off-season.
Considering they slumped to a ninth-place finish last year with a better squad, I can only see them finishing lower this time out.
Although they were hindered massively with injuries, I still can’t see this squad who have lost such vital players in Gopperth, Fekitoa and Young climbing the Premiership table.
When they have a fully fit and available team, they will be a force for anyone up and down the land but when key players get injured or go on international duty such as Barbeary and Jack Willis, then they will struggle to maintain that level.
