PALMER HOPING WASPS CAN STING QUINS
Tom Palmer knows that January could be the make or break month for London Wasps' season - both domestically and in Europe. In their first game of the New Year Wasps host capital rivals Harlequins who, thanks again to the boot of Kiwi fly-half Nick Evans, drew 26-26 with Leicester Tigers last Saturday at Twickenham and remain sixth in the Guinness Premiership, 10 points ahead of Wasps, the reigning champions.
The England prop was one of eight internationals forced to be rested by Shaun Edwards in the 31-3 Boxing Day defeat to Sale Sharks - a loss that brought an end to Wasps' winning run of four games and, in Edwards's view, caused them to lose all momentum.
Though Edwards deemed the Elite Performance Squad stipulation of forcibly dropping England players as "bullshit", Palmer was more diplomatic. Further, he sees no reason why Wasps cannot pick up their game and - as they did last year - go on a devastating, all-conquering run.
The 29-year-old, who started England's ill-fated autumn international against South Africa, said of the EPS regulations: "It is difficult situation as they are the rules. It doesn't help teams like Wasps who have so many internationals. But that is why we need a strong squad.
"It was a real shame to lose against Sale because we were getting a nice run going. After two wins in the league and two in the Heineken Cup we were beginning to play some good stuff again and now we are back to square one, which is disappointing. Now it is very important to beat Harlequins.
"We have not given up on the Guinness Premiership at all. We have got to do as well as we can in both the league and the Heineken Cup. You can lose a game on the bounce of a ball so we are focused on every game we play.
"We know that if we lose a game in Europe, at the stage we are at, we will be out. So we cannot afford to concentrate on one or the other. In the league we have to work hard and keep aiming for the play-offs.
"In the Guinness Premiership I think we are a point better off this year than we were last, before we had that brilliant run. So don't write us off just yet this year!"
Palmer, who moved from Leeds Tykes in 2006 and has won 13 caps for his country, believes that to overcome Harlequins in Round 11 on Sunday they need to close down their half-backs - Evans and scrum-half Danny Care.
He continued: "Harlequins have two outstanding half-backs in Nick and Danny, so I think we have really got to put pressure them. As soon as they get the ball there has to be a defender straight on them so that they are not comfortable. We have got to make life difficult for them - if we give them an easy ride we know they will be incredibly dangerous."
Following the Quins game Wasps travel to league table-toppers Bath and then play their final Heineken Cup group games against Leinster at home and Castres away. A tough period, but one that Wasps will relish, says Palmer.
"January could be a defining month for us this season - we have four really tough games and each one is a big challenge," he said. "But that is what we play for at Wasps - we like testing ourselves against the best sides - and we are all really looking forward to it.
"A really good month for me should see me back in the England square for the Six Nations, so that is a reason for me to focus. Fingers-crossed I will be involved again, but I know I have to put in some big performances."
Palmer and a number of team-mates enjoyed New Year's Eve at hooker Joe Ward's house, where "a few interesting board games" were played. And the front-rower has revealed a rugby resolution for 2009. "I had a chat with England's nutritional expert, and I am going to do a couple of things to keep my bodyweight the same, while decreasing my fat and bulking my muscle mass up," added Palmer.
"I will start a new six-week programme in the New Year that focusses on me getting the right oils and vitamins. In the England training camp in the autumn Mark did some blood screening tests on all of us and it was revealing. The results of that caused a new nutritional plan to be put in to place - and it has really helped and I'm feeling much better.
"I had long-term issues with my back before but now that I am having more fish oils, omega oils, which I was low on, and it is great. I am low in something else too, and that means that I need a glass of red wine and a couple of squares of dark chocolate every night, which is not too bad! Now that my body has adapted to that diet we are changing it again."
Tom Palmer knows that January could be the make or break month for London Wasps' season - both domestically and in Europe. In their first game of the New Year Wasps host capital rivals Harlequins who, thanks again to the boot of Kiwi fly-half Nick Evans, drew 26-26 with Leicester Tigers last Saturday at Twickenham and remain sixth in the Guinness Premiership, 10 points ahead of Wasps, the reigning champions.
The England prop was one of eight internationals forced to be rested by Shaun Edwards in the 31-3 Boxing Day defeat to Sale Sharks - a loss that brought an end to Wasps' winning run of four games and, in Edwards's view, caused them to lose all momentum.
Though Edwards deemed the Elite Performance Squad stipulation of forcibly dropping England players as "bullshit", Palmer was more diplomatic. Further, he sees no reason why Wasps cannot pick up their game and - as they did last year - go on a devastating, all-conquering run.
The 29-year-old, who started England's ill-fated autumn international against South Africa, said of the EPS regulations: "It is difficult situation as they are the rules. It doesn't help teams like Wasps who have so many internationals. But that is why we need a strong squad.
"It was a real shame to lose against Sale because we were getting a nice run going. After two wins in the league and two in the Heineken Cup we were beginning to play some good stuff again and now we are back to square one, which is disappointing. Now it is very important to beat Harlequins.
"We have not given up on the Guinness Premiership at all. We have got to do as well as we can in both the league and the Heineken Cup. You can lose a game on the bounce of a ball so we are focused on every game we play.
"We know that if we lose a game in Europe, at the stage we are at, we will be out. So we cannot afford to concentrate on one or the other. In the league we have to work hard and keep aiming for the play-offs.
"In the Guinness Premiership I think we are a point better off this year than we were last, before we had that brilliant run. So don't write us off just yet this year!"
Palmer, who moved from Leeds Tykes in 2006 and has won 13 caps for his country, believes that to overcome Harlequins in Round 11 on Sunday they need to close down their half-backs - Evans and scrum-half Danny Care.
He continued: "Harlequins have two outstanding half-backs in Nick and Danny, so I think we have really got to put pressure them. As soon as they get the ball there has to be a defender straight on them so that they are not comfortable. We have got to make life difficult for them - if we give them an easy ride we know they will be incredibly dangerous."
Following the Quins game Wasps travel to league table-toppers Bath and then play their final Heineken Cup group games against Leinster at home and Castres away. A tough period, but one that Wasps will relish, says Palmer.
"January could be a defining month for us this season - we have four really tough games and each one is a big challenge," he said. "But that is what we play for at Wasps - we like testing ourselves against the best sides - and we are all really looking forward to it.
"A really good month for me should see me back in the England square for the Six Nations, so that is a reason for me to focus. Fingers-crossed I will be involved again, but I know I have to put in some big performances."
Palmer and a number of team-mates enjoyed New Year's Eve at hooker Joe Ward's house, where "a few interesting board games" were played. And the front-rower has revealed a rugby resolution for 2009. "I had a chat with England's nutritional expert, and I am going to do a couple of things to keep my bodyweight the same, while decreasing my fat and bulking my muscle mass up," added Palmer.
"I will start a new six-week programme in the New Year that focusses on me getting the right oils and vitamins. In the England training camp in the autumn Mark did some blood screening tests on all of us and it was revealing. The results of that caused a new nutritional plan to be put in to place - and it has really helped and I'm feeling much better.
"I had long-term issues with my back before but now that I am having more fish oils, omega oils, which I was low on, and it is great. I am low in something else too, and that means that I need a glass of red wine and a couple of squares of dark chocolate every night, which is not too bad! Now that my body has adapted to that diet we are changing it again."
Labels: Guinness Premiership, London Harlequins, London Wasps, Tom Palmer
