WASPS Head Coach Lee Blackett insists his side have adopted a “knockout mindset” as they try and force their way into the Gallagher Premiership play-off picture.
The Coventry-based club have won six games in a row in all competitions and know that a defeat this weekend will all but end their hopes of a top-four finish.
Wasps currently sit eighth in the Premiership standings, six points behind Northampton Saints in fourth with just three league matches left to play.
And with Wasps also through to the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup, Blackett insists every game until the conclusion of the campaign is knockout rugby for his side.
Blackett said: “There’s a knockout mindset around us, we can’t hide away from the fact that, if we’ve got any ambitions to be in the top four, there’s no way we can possibly lose a game from now until the end of the season.
“We’re trying to build some momentum at the moment, we’ve won eight on the bounce at home, that’s really important to all the players, I was really happy with the win and really happy with the attitude.
“There was a lot of pleasing things to see in our attack, there’s plenty of things to work on, certain things around unstructured attack could have been better, it feels at this moment that there’s some momentum building.
“To win eight on the bounce at home is a great achievement, to win six on the bounce in all competitions as well, our mindset set is take each game as it comes and we know it’s knockout for us in all competitions.”
Wasps beat Irish 38-30 earlier this season and Blackett feels his side need to be at their very best to come away with a victory against another play-off contender.
Blackett added: “We’re moving in the right direction but going to Irish at the weekend, we’re going to have to be at our absolute best that we’ve been in the last few weeks that’s for sure.
“They’re a really good attacking outfit, one of the best in the competition, they’re a threat from everywhere and they’ve got very dangerous players especially in the back line.
“Quite a lot of people talk about them as being a good team to watch, they’re a really impressive attacking team and it’s going to be a big test for our defence.
“There’s plenty of things we’re satisfied with, there’s a lot more growth in us, there’s a lot more in us, I still don’t think we’re at our absolute best, every coach is probably going to say similar.”
Wasps travel to London Irish on Sunday, May 1 with kick-off at 3pm at Brentford Community Stadium.
