THE DAWNING OF A NEW AGE AT WASPS UNDER LEE BLACKETT

Lee Blackett joked earlier in the week that Jimmy Gopperth must have had a far easier paper round when it was remarked to him that they were both 37 years of age.

But while Gopperth will be providing the leadership on the pitch, it is Blackett calling the shots off it despite his tender years.

Promoted to the main coaching role from backs coach after Dai Young stepped down earlier in the season, Blackett will be 28 days short of his 38th birthday when the top two sides in England clash.

Australian Pat Howard holds the record as the youngest man in charge; he was only 33 years and 181 days old when Leicester Tigers crushed Gloucester in the 2007 showpiece.

If successful, Blackett will become only the fourth Englishman* to steer his side to victory, following in the footsteps of Richard Cockerill (Leicester 2009, 2010 and 2013), Jim Mallinder (Northampton 2014) and his direct adversary next Saturday, Rob Baxter (Exeter Chiefs 2017).

Remarkable rise

Blackett’s coaching journey started at Sheffield Hallam University and in the RFU Championship with Rotherham.

He masterminded two semi-final appearances for the Titans and ran Bristol close on both occasions despite a massive gulf in resources.

As the record-holder for the fastest Premiership try (8.28 seconds for Leeds v Newcastle), Blackett is used to getting where he wants to quickly and a step up into the Premiership (in 2015) was inevitable, according to Rotherham DoR Martin Jenkinson.

“It was clear from the off he was a cut above. We knew we couldn’t stand in his way; he was destined for bigger and better things,” Jenkinson said.

“He’s got all the components. He is technically very able, he’s massively driven and works hard and although he has the personality to have a laugh and joke, he also has a ruthless edge. If someone needs dropping, he drops them; if someone needs telling, he tells them.

“I am certain Lee would have been successful in whatever he wanted to do, whether it was rugby or something else.”

PREMIERSHIP WINNING DoRs/HEAD COACHES BY AGE

*Sir Ian McGeechan was born in Leeds, England but Scotland is classed as his nationality