October 23, 2008
Fraser Waters today insisted that there is no crisis at English champions turned early season flops London Wasps.
The centre, who marshalled the English champions’ defence for 10 years before taking on an Italian job with Treviso this season, told the rfu.com podcast, “I speak to the players all the time and there is no panic there, that’s for sure.”
Despite struggling since the start of this season losing eight of their last ten matches and standing 10th in the Guinness Premiership, Waters is confident that the Wasps spirit will pull his former team mates through.
“Generally Wasps like to have their backs against the wall and then come out fighting,” he said.
“To be honest it’s the same every year, the lads get over their summer holidays and then they start picking up.”
In an illustrious decade in black Waters won everything possible with the London outfit, ending his tenure by lifting the Guinness Premiership trophy in May.
Now playing in northern Italy, the 32 year-old has taken up a new challenge in rugby and in life and has had no problems adapting to his new lifestyle. “The sun shines everyday and the food is great,” he said.
With a baby due in two weeks’ time, Waters admits he would have no qualms if his son or daughter opted for Azzurri blue over the white of England. “I’ll give it every opportunity,” he promised, “I suppose it’s nice to have ‘born in Treviso’ on your passport.”
At the other end of the table, Leicester Tigers’ new coach Heyneke Meyer can be pleased with his team’s second place position.
But after missing out on the top job with the Springboks and considering offers from around the world, Meyer opted for Welford Road because he felt the club’s values mirrored his own.
“We all definitely have the aspiration to be the best club in the world and that’s what inspired me,” he said.
And just six weeks into the season, the South African is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead.
“Matches in South Africa were few and far apart compared with the European game, with the Heineken Cup, Guinness Premiership and the EDF Energy Cup all within the first six weeks of the season.”
On top of the schedule, Meyer must also contend with a culture difference. “Back in South Africa, the Bulls squad was made up of only Afrikaans and English speaking players, whereas there is a vast variation in the Tigers squad. I think I counted eight different nationalities here but I think of that as a challenge not a difficulty.”
For the full interviews, check out the rfu.com podcast every Thursday (from 4pm). Here, you can listen to the weekly podcast or subscribe to itunes and have it delivered straight to your inbox each week.
Formerly the Gillette Rugby Podcast, the rfu.com podcast takes you inside English rugby from the grassroots to the elite.
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