It is probably not a coincidence that two of the outstanding English performers this season – Wasps’ Elliot Daly and Maro Itoje of Saracens – were among the first five cut from Stuart Lancaster’s World Cup training squad back in July. Both finished last season in rampant form, neither bears the scars of England’s disastrous campaign as hosts of the tournament and there is a new coach, taking office on Tuesday and promising a clean slate, to impress.
So at Twickenham, after Itoje’s man-of-the-match performance against Worcester, Daly continued to enhance his reputation, finishing one try and teeing up another – Frank Halai’s second, which rubber-stamped Wasps’ bonus-point win over London Irish, who have now lost all five of their Premiership matches.
Daly’s claim to England’s No13 jersey is genuine. Manu Tuilagi and Jonathan Joseph are nursing injuries while Henry Slade is also a contender but will come under consideration in other positions and in any case he is not playing at the level of Daly, the 23-year-old with a booming left boot, express pace and a delightful outside break.
“He’s been going really well. He’s one of a lot of big performers that we’ve had out there,” said Wasps’ director of rugby, Dai Young, who conceded his side were far from their best after their recent European heroics.
“I’ve always thought he’s done enough to be there or thereabouts. He got picked in the 50 but came a bit late for World Cup selection probably; I think the die had probably been cast with the other guys. But, even if Stuart [Lanvaster] had stayed, Elliot was knocking on the door and he was recognised by the management as having a real opportunity.”
Wasps did enough to seal a first away win of the Premiership season but it was not a vintage performance. It was not until Thomas Young’s 70th-minute try that Irish’s hopes of a comeback – brought about when their 19-year-old centre Johnny Williams scored his second try on his Premiership debut – were eventually ended.
“Johnny is a real talent. He’s a pretty special kid. Having seen some of the talent in New Zealand, he’d be right up there – and there are a lot of kids coming through the academy,” said Irish’s captain, Matt Symons, who spent two seasons in Super Rugby with the Chiefs before returning to his native England in the summer.
“Looking back on the last few Premiership games, we’ve been right in the fight. It’s kind of hard to see outside the changing room but there is a real positivity and a real energy and excitement, and we’ve just got to stick to our guns.”
London Irish: Ojo; Lewington, Tikoirotuma, Williams (Brophy-Clews, 75), Fowlie (Mulchrone, 61); Noakes, Steele (Allinson, 65); Court (Smallbone, 66), Paice (Ellis, 51), Franks (Halavatau, 73), Sheriff (Narraway, 55), Symons (capt), Trayfoot, Cowan, Treviranus (Sinclair, 52).
Tries Williams 2. Con Noakes. Pen Noakes.
Wasps: Piutau; Tagicakibau, Daly, Jacobs (Macken, 71), Halai; Jackson (Gopperth, 50), Simpson (Robson, 63); Mullan (capt; McIntyre, 61), Johnson (Shervington, 63), Cooper-Woolley (Cittadini, 50), Gaskell (Davies, 63), Myall, Haskell (Jones, 55), Young, Hughes.
Tries Halai 2, Daly, Young. Con Jackson, Gopperth. Pen Jackson 2, Gopperth.
Referee W Barnes. Att 42,680
