“I’m more than just a fast mover,” says Wasps winger Christian Wade

Wasps winger Christian Wade is sick of being labelled simply a speed merchant and is determined to prove he has more than one trick up his sleeve.
There is no denying that Wade possesses phenomenal pace which has helped him score 14 tries in 24 appearances but the 21-year-old does not want to be pigeon-holed as a player who just relies on gas.
Since returning from England‘s tour of South Africa, where he scored a hat-trick against the Southern Barbarians, Wade has focused on expanding his game.
Working closely with Stephen Jones on his kicking and even with some mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters on his counter-rucking, Wade told The Rugby Paper he wants to be known as the complete package.
He said: “Sometimes it is annoying just being called quick. I want people to notice me for other things apart from my speed and footwork.
“I’m looking to develop my defensive positioning, my kicking game, my passing and being under the high ball – they are the main areas for me as a winger.
“Every player has their strengths and weaknesses and I think it’s the top players that go away and work on their weaknesses as well as their strengths, obviously, to keep those up, which makes you a more rounded player which is my aim this season.
“Going forward I’m looking at all areas of my game and I want bring them up to a level that makes me not good at not one thing but two, three or four.
“I hope that if I work on the areas I need to develop and improve them, hopefully that will put me in good stead to get a position in the Wasps team, firstly, and then, hopefully, the England team.”
In an otherwise grim season, Wade’s dazzling performances were a source of comfort to the Adams Park faithful last term.
The question will be whether, this season, he can back up his strike-rate of more than a try every other game with defences more attuned to his threat.
Wade, though, believes he was already a marked man by the end of last season and is unwavering in his belief he can match his try haul from his maiden Premiership campaign.
“At the beginning of last season people didn’t know what I could do, and so I would do something and that would catch them off guard,” he said.
“Whereas towards the end of last season people knew what I was doing so I would get less space and less time on the ball, so that is an area of my game I need to work on just so that I can still do the things I know I can do.
“To a degree it is annoying but that is part of the game. Once you are known as a player you have just got to keep developing so that you can remain at the top.
“I have heard of the second season syndrome where a player has a great first year and then the following year they get too complacent or comfortable, I’m going to try to avoid that. I’m not necessarily worried about it but I know what I need to do this year.
“My main goal is to develop a sense of consistency. Last year was a breakthrough season into the first team which is the benchmark and this year I can’t really do anything less than last year.
“That is my mindset for this year so I’m going to being working hard on and off the field and on the training ground to achieve that consistency.”
MATTHEW EVANS