Wasps coach Dai Young anticipating Bath response

Andrew Baldock 08:23 20/02/2016
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Dai Young says Wasps are ready to face Leinster

    Wasps boss Dai Young has no doubt that Bath will want to “set the record straight” when the Aviva Premiership rivals meet for a fourth time this season on Saturday.

    The clubs claimed one European win each, while Wasps shaded a scrappy Premiership encounter last October, but current form hugely favours Young’s men.

    While Wasps arrive in the west country following a startling 64-23 demolition of league leaders Saracens last weekend, Bath have won just two from their last seven Premiership starts – and both of those were against struggling Worcester.

    “Sunday’s performance against Saracens was certainly one for the memory banks, but that’s where it stays,” Young said. “I am sure Bath will want to set the record straight and make it 2-2 after our win there in Europe, so we know they will throw everything at us on Saturday. We will need to be at our absolute best again.”

    Bath certainly know what might be coming from Wasps, having been on the receiving end of a 36-10 Champions Cup defeat – their heaviest European home loss – against them in December.

    “They play a great brand of rugby and showed what they can do last Sunday. It was very impressive,” Bath flanker Francois Louw said.

    Saracens, meanwhile, have an immediate chance to resume normal service at Allianz Park when they host Gloucester, and scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth said: “We let our fans down badly at the weekend. They have been extremely supportive, and we need to give them something to shout about.”

    Sale Sharks rugby director Steve Diamond takes his team to Worcester, where an away victory would keep them firmly in contention for a play-off spot, with just five points separating six clubs immediately behind current Premiership top two Saracens and Exeter before the latest round of league action.

    “We have got to get a win at the weekend to keep the pressure on the teams that are around us, and more importantly, the top four,” Diamond said.

    “We have got to go down there and play better than we did at the weekend to beat them. Tomorrow’s action sees two of the bottom three clubs with home advantage, as 12th-placed London Irish host Exeter and Newcastle entertain Northampton.

    Recommended