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| Harlequins 20-21 Wasps Harlequins 20-21 WaspsThe stage was ready for his spectacular entry, as a record crowd of 76,716 gathered for a west London rugby derby at a crisp and festive setting for Big Game 2. He surely would not let the occasion ruffle his gilded feathers.No, the sea eagle duly delivered the match ball on to a podium in the middle of Twickenham for the benefit of Quins' Arab sponsors and Danny Cipriani could only envy the bird's aplomb.The star No10 missed five kicks at goal from seven attempts and Wasps won by a point; that is cutting it fine and there will be lingering doubts about not only his recall when Dave Walder is in the form of his life but whether or not the stardust that is sprinkled on Danny boy's shoulders is not weighing him down a little.Tony Hanks, the director of rugby who juggles the numbers at Wasps, sidestepped questions about a rumoured move to Stade Français for his brilliant, brittle fly-half, paying tribute instead to "the group", as they prepare for the visit of Newcastle, in fifth place two pointsoff the shoulder of Leicester and lookingin decent shape. "We are looking at retention [of players] more than anythingelse," he said, as Cipriani sat smilingly beside him.Not that Cipriani had that poor a game when the ball was in his clever hands. He did not always choose the right option but generally he looked good enough for a player who had not started since fracturing his fibula in October. He played flat and busted the line twice in the first half, then his influence waned as he missed three kicks in a row after the break.Before the hour was up he gave way to Walder, who is putting them over at a match-winning 80% this season, and a wise replacement it was. Walder landed twice to hold Quins off in a dramatic finish to a tense, sometimes ragged game.Cipriani declared himself reasonably pleased with his comeback and was honest enough to admit his kicking was ordinary. While his positional play was spot on, his passing did not have the crispness needed to beat the cover; it is that split-second timing that he has to rediscover to catch the eye of the England manager, Martin Johnson, again."To be playing for England again would be brilliant," he said, "but right now the priority is here at Wasps and to be back in the side. It's about getting back into the rhythm and used to things. It's nice to get back on the pitch after going through many disruptions, especially as we won."Hanks hinted he could play Cipriani and Walder together, although the prospect of moving to full-back would not fill the former with joy. Walder would be a good bet to start against Newcastle.Nick Evans was not setting the world alight for Quins, either, missing two kickable penalties, both in the first half, but his boot clicked quite beautifully when he was looking for gaps over the Wasps defence.Wasps will be hugely thankful to the yeomanry of Simon Shaw, whose bullocking strength at the breakdown going forward always kept the opposition honest. He was a worthy man of the match and Hanks was not being entirely flippant when he observed "Shawsy could be the Premiership's first 40-year-old player."Joe Simpson was playing sharply behind the Wasps scrum again until led off in the second half with a wrist injury that might yet endanger his Six Nations chances. Danny Care, meanwhile, took his chances at No9 for Quins, even when harassed at the set piece, and scored at the end, as did David Strettle when the cause was lost and time was gone.Simpson was on hand in the third minute of the match to hunt down George Skivington's astute long kick through after busting the Quins line, and the half so harried Strettle going backwards he fumbled and the ball popped loose over the line for Simpson.John Hart scored their second try six minutes from time, getting free from the defence after a lovely sweep upfield by the backs, and scrambling over in the tackle.At two tries apiece there was rough parity, although John Kingston, keeping the coaching seat warm still, did not see it quite like that. "We had the better of the first half," he said, "but their defence was very good and they did not allow us to do the things we wanted to do."Harlequins Brown; Strettle, Tiesi, Mordt (Lowe, 60), Monye; Evans, Care; Jones (Croall, 65), Fuga (Brooker, 51), Lambert (Andress, 50), Stevenson (Percival, 50), Robson, Robshaw, Skinner (capt, Guest, 65), Easter.Tries Care, Strettle. Cons Evans (2). Pens Evans 2.Wasps Van Gisbergen; Sackey, Waldouck, Kefu (Jacobs, 71), Lemi; Cipriani (Walder, 56), Simpson (Robinson, 52); Payne (Rice, 58), Webber, Broster (Baker, 72), Shaw, Skivington, Hart, Betsen (capt), Ward-Smith.Tries Simpson, Hart. Cons Walder. Pens Cipriani 2, Walder.Referee D Pearson. Attendance 76,716.Guinness PremiershipLondon WaspsHarlequinsDanny CiprianiRugby unionKevin Mitchellguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
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