The giddy heights of second gave Gloucester vertigo. Their first league defeat for three months was a reminder that there are times when it pays to play with your head rather than eyes. In the season of goodwill, they lavished their hosts with gifts and resembled discarded wrapping paper by the end as Wasps overtook them in the table.
Even when they were 17-15 ahead at half-time, Gloucester were not convincing. Their three visits to the Wasps 22 had resulted in tries, with the home side initially as charitable in defence – too often standing off and being knocked back in contact – but, overall, the visitors played too often from deep while being heavily penalised in the scrum and wobbly in the lineout, they lacked a foundation.
Gloucester were unbeaten in the Premiership since the end of September and had already equalled the number of victories they recorded last season, seven. Their line speed in defence has been a factor in their revival, but they suffered a defensive malfunction after 11 minutes, when Willie le Roux wandered across the pitch looking for an opening, and it set the tone for what was to follow.
Gloucester had not recovered from losing the ball in their 22 after trying to work their way upfield from the kick-off and were hemmed in after being penalised in three scrums – yet their first attack resulted in a try when Willi Heinz shrugged off Kyle Eastmond’s challenge.
Defence was a reason Eastmond’s England career stalled before his Achilles’ tendon injury in this fixture in February but, other than missing Heinz, he made an impact, quick to move up and overtly physical, once penalised for dumping Tom Marshall on his back. It was his presence that turned the match eight minutes into the second half after Gloucester indulged in a multiphase move.
Eastmond picked up a loose ball on his 22 and fed Le Roux, who immediately released Thomas Young. The flanker had 75 metres to go to the Gloucester line and was surrounded by backs, but he dummied his way into space and then beat a centre, Martin Atkinson, for pace. The try resulted in the lead changing hands for the fourth and final time with Gloucester’s challenge then quickly unravelling.
It took Wasps until 13 minutes from the end to secure the bonus-point try that ensured they would move above Gloucester in the table. Guy Thompson forced his way over after two Danny Cipriani penalties had given the home side a cushion to spark a madcap finish.
Three tries were scored in the final five minutes after Wasps were reduced to 14 men when Josh Bassett suffered a leg injury, with all his side’s replacements on the pitch.
Gloucester scored the first through Freddie Clark to secure a try bonus point, but then gave away two to Dan Robson and Christian Wade through an intercept and an improvised kick-off respectively, which summed up a contest that had contained some light on a dull day in the opening period.
Gloucester led 12-5 after 30 minutes when Ollie Thorley’s break resulted in an Atkinson try, but they surrendered the lead to Cipriani’s first penalty and a try by Wade – who had earlier been denied by Thorley and Ruan Ackermann after crossing the line – only to regain it two minutes from the interval when Tom Marshall profited from some suspect tackling.
Gloucester had their best period of the match at the start of the second half, but after squandering an attacking lineout they were then turned over for Young’s try and overrun.
It was less a reality check for a team that, in recent seasons, has been anchored in the bottom half of the table than confirmation that decisions decide matches rather than live up to an ideal.
