Launchbury near to return

Editor

England and Wasps lock Joe Launchbury is near to returning to action as he enters the final stage of his rehab.

Launchbury underwent neck surgery in October last year, keeping him out of the Six Nations, but is on track to make a return at the end of next month or beginning of May.

"Joe is in the final stage of his rehab, so he's over the worst, but if one or two days don't quite go to plan it will make a difference in when he's back," said Young.

"We've pencilled in either the Leicester or the Exeter games, so he should be back in either of those games. It will be like having a new signing."

Wasps take on European champions Toulon this weekend in the quarter-final of the Champions Cup, with Young commenting that Mourad Boudjellal's group of stars are not unbeatable.

"If we can get some real tempo and intensity and ask questions of them, then who knows what can happen? This is a game we have to try to win. If we sit back and are conservative, there's only winner.

"Toulon have lost games and they're not unbeatable, so you have to back yourselves.

"We've shown we can upset the best teams. Against these guys we'll have to play for 80 minutes. We just have to go out there and really play.

"If we can get quick line-outs or taps going then great. Anything within kicking range we'll kick it, but until then let's play rugby. It may be good enough on the day, it may not.

"We're not going to throw caution to the wind, but we have to be a little more adventurous than we would be in the Premiership."