Monday 22 December 2014 06:24, UK
Andy Goode says Wasps' first match at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry could not have gone any better after they thrashed London Irish 48-16.
The star of the show for Wasps was fittingly local boy Goode, who scored 33 points on the day – a Premiership record for the most points by a single player in a game – as his team secured a vital win over their London rivals.
Wasps suffered some backlash from members of the public when they announced the move to the stadium in Coventry, but a crowd of 28,254 would have been pleasing for the Wasps board to see.
Man-of-the-match Goode, who was born in Coventry, was visibly relieved when the match ended.
"I normally sleep petty well the night before games, but I couldn't sleep well before this one,” said Goode after the game.
"It sounds cliched and cheesy, but it's the sort of thing dreams are made of. It couldn't have gone any better. What a day. Cliches are made for days like this... Christmas has come early! To get the bonus point was pretty special.
"I've been a fair few times with friends to watch Coventry City play, so to run out at that arena is unbelievable.”
The former England fly-half, who missed just one of his 11 shots at goal, revealed the unusual criticism he received after his poor kicking performance last week.
He added: "It couldn't have gone any better for me. I took a hammering all week from my little girl for missing five kicks last weekend.
"She made me change my boots and as I came off the field she said to me, 'you're keeping those boots forever daddy'."
The pivot only found out after the game that he had set the points record.
"As a kicker and a player you don't go out to get these records,” said Goode. “So to find out I'd done it was amazing. If the record is still standing, it will be something I (will) look back on at the end of my career."
Wasps were forced to wait until the 80th minute to secure the bonus point with an Adrea Masi score in the final play of the game a fitting end to an historic day for the side.
"I said to the guys before the start of the game that we can't get carried away with the emotion of it," Goode said.
"I'm the oldest in the changing room and I told the players not to do anything they wouldn't do for a normal game. Don't try to be a hero, stick to what we do in training.
"Obviously everyone wanted to put on a spectacle for the fans, especially after all the hard work that was put into making this day happen."
London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith was critical of referee Tom Foley after his team were hammered on the penalty count.
"When a young referee gets a crack in front of a big crowd like this, you get a little bit concerned," Smith said.
"It's a mystery that you have Andrew Small with all of his experience as the fourth official, but I'm sure there's a masterplan there. Young referees need to be developed and we'll just have to cop it on the chin.
"It's a very frustrated changing room but I don't want to take anything away from Wasps, this is their big day and their party and we came to have a crack."
