REES TO PUT STING BACK IN WASPS’ TAIL
England flanker Tom Rees wants to rid himself of the disappointment of the World Cup by pouring all his energies into kick-starting Wasps’ season after their poor start.
On Sunday Wasps host a Gloucester side firing on all cylinders, in the EDF Energy Cup. The 23-year-old No7 thinks that the sizable challenge will bring out the best in his team whose reinforcements have arrived just in time.
“Gloucester have been flying high,” said Rees. “They have been a strong attacking side for a few years, and now they are adding a real consistency to their game.
“It presents a big challenge for us, and hopefully it will be this big challenge that will pull out a big performance from us.”
The London club have won only once in the Guinness Premiership, while Gloucester, who finished top of the table last season, have begun where they left off and they are the pace-setters after six games.
In the EDF Energy Cup it is all square in their pool – Wasps drew with Newport Gwent Dragons and Gloucester tied with Newcastle Falcons last week.
Heineken Cup champions Wasps have been without World Cup stars Rees, England skipper Phil Vickery, Simon Shaw, Joe Worsley, Josh Lewsey, Laurence Dallaglio and Paul Sackey, as well as Frenchman Rafael Ibanez so far this season.
And Rees is raring to go after a disappointing time in France – he featured in the pool matches against the USA and South Africa, but was not further selected on England’s unlikely journey to the final at the Stade de France.
He said: “It’s very good to be back from France. The World Cup was a fantastic experience but I wasn’t involved on the playing side as much as I would have liked, so it is good for me to be back playing at Wasps against Gloucester to try and back in the swing of things.
“If I’m going to be anywhere near the England team come the Six Nations I am going to have to get back playing well for Wasps.
“It does feel a bit odd coming back when the campaign is already underway – I feel like I’m starting my season now.
“There are guys who are already up to speed, and up and running and have plenty of match practice already. It’s important for us to get back in and get firing, and build our match form up.”
Unlike his international colleagues, Rees did feature for Wasps last week, in their draw with Newport. He was impressed by the performance Riki Flutey, who signed from London Irish in the summer.
“For Riki to come into the team and play slightly differently to how he used to is hard, but he has slotted in really well.
“As a No7 it is important to have a good relationship with your fly-half, and when we played together last week he was talking to me the whole game – it felt like I was the newcomer.”
Rees, who won the man-of-the match award on his first international start against France in March, is positive that Wasps can turn their season around.
“I don’t think we need to push any panic buttons, or change anything drastically,” he added. “I’m convinced that the effort and passion is there in abundance from the lads.
“There are a lot of young guys who are trying to prove their worth. The things that have been lacking are perhaps a cool head at times and that self-belief when things begin to get tough.
“I think that toughness marks out a lot of our senior players – the fact that when the chips are down they are always firing right to the final whistle.
“If these young players could learn just to have that self-belief we will start to close out games. Once we build up that confidence we will be fine.”
England flanker Tom Rees wants to rid himself of the disappointment of the World Cup by pouring all his energies into kick-starting Wasps’ season after their poor start.
On Sunday Wasps host a Gloucester side firing on all cylinders, in the EDF Energy Cup. The 23-year-old No7 thinks that the sizable challenge will bring out the best in his team whose reinforcements have arrived just in time.
“Gloucester have been flying high,” said Rees. “They have been a strong attacking side for a few years, and now they are adding a real consistency to their game.
“It presents a big challenge for us, and hopefully it will be this big challenge that will pull out a big performance from us.”
The London club have won only once in the Guinness Premiership, while Gloucester, who finished top of the table last season, have begun where they left off and they are the pace-setters after six games.
In the EDF Energy Cup it is all square in their pool – Wasps drew with Newport Gwent Dragons and Gloucester tied with Newcastle Falcons last week.
Heineken Cup champions Wasps have been without World Cup stars Rees, England skipper Phil Vickery, Simon Shaw, Joe Worsley, Josh Lewsey, Laurence Dallaglio and Paul Sackey, as well as Frenchman Rafael Ibanez so far this season.
And Rees is raring to go after a disappointing time in France – he featured in the pool matches against the USA and South Africa, but was not further selected on England’s unlikely journey to the final at the Stade de France.
He said: “It’s very good to be back from France. The World Cup was a fantastic experience but I wasn’t involved on the playing side as much as I would have liked, so it is good for me to be back playing at Wasps against Gloucester to try and back in the swing of things.
“If I’m going to be anywhere near the England team come the Six Nations I am going to have to get back playing well for Wasps.
“It does feel a bit odd coming back when the campaign is already underway – I feel like I’m starting my season now.
“There are guys who are already up to speed, and up and running and have plenty of match practice already. It’s important for us to get back in and get firing, and build our match form up.”
Unlike his international colleagues, Rees did feature for Wasps last week, in their draw with Newport. He was impressed by the performance Riki Flutey, who signed from London Irish in the summer.
“For Riki to come into the team and play slightly differently to how he used to is hard, but he has slotted in really well.
“As a No7 it is important to have a good relationship with your fly-half, and when we played together last week he was talking to me the whole game – it felt like I was the newcomer.”
Rees, who won the man-of-the match award on his first international start against France in March, is positive that Wasps can turn their season around.
“I don’t think we need to push any panic buttons, or change anything drastically,” he added. “I’m convinced that the effort and passion is there in abundance from the lads.
“There are a lot of young guys who are trying to prove their worth. The things that have been lacking are perhaps a cool head at times and that self-belief when things begin to get tough.
“I think that toughness marks out a lot of our senior players – the fact that when the chips are down they are always firing right to the final whistle.
“If these young players could learn just to have that self-belief we will start to close out games. Once we build up that confidence we will be fine.”
Labels: Guinness Premiership, rugby union, Rugby World Cup, Tom Rees, Wasps
