Did the timings of today's matches affect the semifinals?

[scrum1/2]

Exeter won today with a 5 pointer, some 15 minutes before the end of the Wasps v Sarries game. At that time Wasps needed 2 more tries to end up top and without them scoring these then Sarries would have come back to play Wasps in the semifinals. Obviously both teams would have been aware of the Exeter result so there was the possibility of this affecting the result between them- how was this allowed in such a key game??

[strawclearer]

I heard the decision to delay was taken by a third party on the grounds of public safety. Can't corroborate but, if true, safety must take priority.

[Seal]

Yes that is what was reported by Premiership Rugby on Twitter.

The Ricoh is an absolute joke when it nears capacity.

[fortysix]

Lucky for us then.. think of all that petrol money saved...

[scrum1/2]

Didn't know that but it still raises questions and perhaps some conspiracy theories around how/why this happened

[tigercaspian]

Lucky for us then.. think of all that petrol money saved...

+1

[Mark62]

Not as much as Sarries picking half a side did

[chris111]

Didn't know that but it still raises questions and perhaps some conspiracy theories around how/why this happened

To be fair, even if they'd kicked off at the same time, Wasps would probably still have been pushing for the 4th try, knowing that would guarantee them the 'easier'* semi-final. However, any suspicion of dodgy behaviour could have been avoided by delaying all the matches....

*sorry, hate to say it, but this year the table doesn't lie

[Noddy555]

No I don't think so. The fact that the Wasps Sarries match was unavoidably delayed
through safety reasons wouldn't have affected our match at Worcester and Exeter away at Gloucester. It was interesting though how the play off scenario kept changing, at one point it looked as though we were heading for Sandy Park only to end up back at the Ricoh,

[TigerCam]

Didn't know that but it still raises questions and perhaps some conspiracy theories around how/why this happened

To be fair, even if they'd kicked off at the same time, Wasps would probably still have been pushing for the 4th try, knowing that would guarantee them the 'easier'* semi-final. However, any suspicion of dodgy behaviour could have been avoided by delaying all the matches....

*sorry, hate to say it, but this year the table doesn't lie

There will be nothing easy for wasps on the 20th. The Tigers nearly did them last visit gifting them a 3 try start. Their win yesterday was hard work for them against a 1/2 Sarries side. The scoreline flattered them. Tigers will meet Sarries at HQ come the 27th!!

[LessThanSte]

You're right that the scoreline flattered wasps, neither team played well though - I'd rather play Wasps than Saracens tbh.

As for the delay, we were bundled in the south stand which turned out to be the football away end, so couldn't get anywhere, but when we heard it was being delayed at 3:50 we were just heading to the seats - someone said there were big queues outside but the seats were pretty full by that point, and there was no-one coming through the turnstiles. There was however a massive queue at the bars where we were, so that could be it.

It did seem a bit fishy at the time, but i don't think it really affected anything.

Bring on the 20th.

[chris111]

To be fair, even if they'd kicked off at the same time, Wasps would probably still have been pushing for the 4th try, knowing that would guarantee them the 'easier'* semi-final. However, any suspicion of dodgy behaviour could have been avoided by delaying all the matches....

*sorry, hate to say it, but this year the table doesn't lie

There will be nothing easy for wasps on the 20th. The Tigers nearly did them last visit gifting them a 3 try start. Their win yesterday was hard work for them against a 1/2 Sarries side. The scoreline flattered them. Tigers will meet Sarries at HQ come the 27th!!

I also think we have a chance - I said "easier" not "easy"! Wasps will still start favourites and if they recapture their early/mid-season form I don't think we currently have a defensive set-up to live with them. However, there's no doubt that they've faded in the last month or so - and Tigers have gone up a notch.

On current form we can definitely edge it upfront, but will still need to hit our absolute best everywhere else. It's always difficult trying to objectively assess your own team's chances, so looking at bookie's odds* is a reasonable way of getting a reality check. So far I've seen us at 9/2, Wasps at 1/4 - and this feels about right.

*we are 14/1 to win the final....

[h's dad]

*sorry, hate to say it, but this year the table doesn't lie

A number of posters on here must be thinking they're looking at the table upside down as Tigers could not possibly be in the top half.

With just about everything that could go wrong going wrong this season, fourth is a pretty decent performance. Hopefully Tigers can now get their act together and get back to where they belong.

[BFG]

IMO Waynetta affected the result of the Wasps match more than the late kick off.
Allowing Wade's try to take place with a clear Wasps infringement earlier in the move was an error that has ultimately decided the play offs.
Waynetta's explanation to Sarries players at the time was his old favourite "if I didn't see it then I can't give it"!
IMO Sarries looked like they were starting to take control before that try.
Waynetta is so slow moving, is not the most alert to where it matters and gets himself in very poor positions, I reckon if a team were smart enough they could plan their entire attack around him, IMO Wasps buzzed a few moves off him yesterday!

[MrPartridge]

In a word No. as others have said, Wasps always knew they needed 4 tries. So much for some Wasps fans I heard saying they wanted Saracens at home in the SF. With 15 mins to go they could have ensured that as they knew the Exeter result so no more tries and the win would have ensured Saracens at home.