Guiness Premiership / Paul Moon / 24 October 2008 / 1 Comments

Pablo Luna - Moonlighting for Betfair. Pablo looks at the demise of Wasps and wonders whether they'll bounce back without the inspirational Dallaglio.

Former London Wasps centre Fraser Waters has insisted that there is no crisis at the English champions despite losing eight of their last ten matches and standing 10th in the Guinness Premiership. Shaun Edwards disagrees! He is 'gravely concerned' about Wasps accelerating descent from champions of England to their worst beating in Europe for six years.

Leinster hammered Wasps 41-11 in Dublin and it will be fascinating to see how Wasps recover from their second-heaviest defeat in their Heineken Cup history. They now face a must-win visit to Edinburgh where they will look to get their campaign back on track.

Latest prices on the Heineken Cup include: Toulouse [5.7] Stade Francais [5.9] Munster [6.2] Leinster [8.6] Leicester Tigers [12.5] Bath Rugby [16] Ospreys [20] Cardiff Blues [21] Gloucester Rugby [24] Harlequins [24] and Wasps [29] Bar [36].

It is true that last year Wasps won only four of their first eight Premiership games before going on to claim their fourth league title in six years, so should they be worried? I think they should, as there are a number of areas for concern.

Taking your eye off the ball is a cardinal sin in sport and I believe this is happening at Adams Park. The coaching staff are stretching themselves too thinly and consequently losing focus.

For example Wasps are hoping to draft in former-coach Tony Hanks as emergency coaching cover while Ian McGeechan and Shaun Edwards bunk off. They will be involved with the November internationals and Six Nations championship.

McGeechan and Edwards will be watching as many Tests as possible in their capacity as British Lion mandarins for next summer's tour to South Africa. Edwards already has a dual role as Wasps head coach and Wales defence guru, making it three jobs in total. Edwards has long aspired to be involved with the Lions.

The Lions association is generally considered the pinnacle of a player and coaches career even in this professional bank note age but there is a cost domestically and Wasps are paying the top price.

Other points to consider is whether the old warriors are looking their age? Are they missing the presence of that rock solid talisman Dallaglio on and off the pitch? I think that they are.

Mark van Gisbergen has not been available for most of the season. They have sorely missed his defensive tackling, elusive running, accurate kicking but also his ability to catch a ball. Curiously Edwards has highlighted this fact claiming that the 'kicking game is killing us.' I wonder if the opposition noted those comments?

Training ground fights are reasonably common in rugby but interestingly the one between Cipriani (20) and Lewsey (31) came after the latter accused the high-profile beau of Kelly Brook of missing tackles in a cup defeat to Gloucester.

Wasps admitted the ugly altercation but said newspapers claim that Cipriani had been knocked out cold and left with a bloody nose and cut lip were exaggerated. Is this a reflection of the cohesion within the club? The mood is that many older players feel the young celebrity is usurping them and this situation is unlikely to change.

Bizarrely and foolishly Tony Copsey (CEO Wasps), added fuel to this fire when he claimed Cipriani was a celebrity first and rugby player second. How can that declaration possibly help the club? Everyone involved with Wasps uses the catch phrase 'brutal honesty' but I am not convinced that everyone responds to that. Any thoughts?

Currently 10th in the league it will be fascinating to see where Wasps finish this season, surely they cannot win the Guinness Premiership from here? Latest Betfair prices on Regular Season Winner show: Leicester Tigers [3.6] Gloucester Rugby [4.7] Bath Rugby [5] Sale Sharks [7.4] Saracens [11] Harlequins [14.5] Wasps [16.5] Bar [19].