A TOP four position in the Aviva Premiership is looking more likely for Wasps following Sunday’s bonus point victory at Newcastle Falcons, but the club’s director of rugby Dai Young firmly believes the season will go down to the wire.
Wasps look on target to secure their first place in the play-offs since 2008 after recording a 34-20 win, which was the club’s eight win in nine league outings.
They came up against a stubborn Newcastle side who fought back from 15-3 down to get within just two points early in the second half.
Young’s side scored two tries in as many minutes to move ahead again only for their opponents to get back within just seven points.
But a fifth try at the death allowed Wasps to secure a 12th win of the season and move to within just one point of second-placed Exeter Chiefs.
“I’m certainly not getting above myself,” said Young. “Top four is still a battle and is still going to the wire and the next game will have a big bearing on it.
“The main thing for us this year was to reach the top six and we’re as good as there now – we’d have to have a bit of a disaster for that not to happen now.
“Top four is probably over-reaching where a lot of people thought we would be at the start of the year.
“There’s too many big games around at the moment for us to look too far ahead. This season is relentless with one big match after another and certainly next week against Saints is a huge game in the top four battle.
“If we can get a result from that it would put us in a very good position for the top four, but we’re playing against Northampton and we all know how tough and experienced they are.
“They’re used to battling games out to be in the top four year after year, so we know we’re up against it next week, but we’ve got confidence and if we play like we can we can get that result.”
Young also heaped praise on Wasps scrum half Dan Robson who scored two tries, while fellow scrum half Thomas Young also scored a brace.
He added: “I’ve always said we haven’t got a No.1 and No.2 scrum half, we have two No.1’s who are as good as anything about, so while I’m really pleased with how Dan has played, I know Joe Simpson will come back in the next couple of weeks and put the pressure on him and we’re really blessed in that department.”
