Wasps 31 Northampton Saints 35: Tom Vickers' review and player ratings

Teimana Harrison delivered a try during an all-action display at the Ricoh ArenaTeimana Harrison delivered a try during an all-action display at the Ricoh Arena
Teimana Harrison delivered a try during an all-action display at the Ricoh Arena
With five minutes to go, it looked like it was going to be another one of those days at the Ricoh Arena for Saints.

Actually, it looked like it might be the worst one yet.

Because after getting what looked like a stranglehold on the game, Saints, who had never previously won at the Ricoh in the Premiership, somehow let Wasps off the hook.

A 28-10 lead became a 31-28 deficit seemingly in the blink of the eye.

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Not only that, 15 men rapidly became 13 as Tom Collins was sent off and Cobus Reinach was sin-binned.

It looked like being a second-half horror show, even if Saints had pocketed a losing bonus to add to their earlier try bonus point.

Wasps were on the charge and the momentum had completely swung their way.

It was almost surreal as Saints had been dominant for so long.

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Dan Biggar made a brilliant break for Saints' opening scoreDan Biggar made a brilliant break for Saints' opening score
Dan Biggar made a brilliant break for Saints' opening score

Aside from a Marcus Watson sucker punch, brilliantly engineered by Malakai Fekitoa, the men in grey and green appeared calm, composed and hungry for tries.

In fact, they probably should have been far further ahead than the four-point lead they enjoyed at the break.

Wasps had been struggling to get out of their own half, despite delivering some bone-crunching hits and producing prolonged periods of resilience.

And when Tom Wood and Cobus Reinach scored two tries in the space of 11 second-half minutes, there looked to be only one winner.

Cobus Reinach scored Saints' first try on Sunday afternoonCobus Reinach scored Saints' first try on Sunday afternoon
Cobus Reinach scored Saints' first try on Sunday afternoon

But that was where Saints stopped and Wasps started.

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The hosts brought the likes of Sione Vailanu and, most notably, Jimmy Gopperth off the bench.

And Gopperth, so often a tormentor of Saints, helped to turn the tide in his team's favour.

Suddenly, Saints were all at sea, with gaps appearing at an alarming rate and not enough buckets on board to shift the water out of a rapidly sinking ship.

That was until the final five minutes, when they finally regained a foothold in the game.

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Wave after wave of attack came Wasps' way, and they eventually buckled thanks to the brute strength of Taqele Naiyaravoro.

The away fans, who outsung their home counterparts, were left delirious, and after the metronomic Dan Biggar converted, Saints saw it out to secure a memorable win.

Yes, it shouldn't have needed to be so memorable.

Saints should have sewn the game up at 28-10 ahead, as teams like Saracens and Exeter most likely would have done.

But it was another step in their evolution and another lesson that they can learn without any real damage being done.

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They will have to be better for longer in games against better teams.

But another win on the road is so welcome and the perfect way for them to start the year, however it came.

This Saints team rarely fails to produce excitement and heart-stopping moments.

And they will now desperately hope they can keep themselves alive in Europe during the next two weeks.

How they rated...

GEORGE FURBANK

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