Wade brimming with confidence

Editor

Wasps' Christian Wade is eager to get on the park as they prepare to face Leinster in the Champions Cup on Sunday in Dublin.

As the wing looks back on the tough draw Wasps came through last season in order to make the play-offs, he feels confident they can do the same this season. Toulon and Bath round out Pool 5, making each game as crucial as the last.

"It is the sort of thing that gives you confidence," the 24-year-old told the EPC Rugby website.

"It is a very difficult pool but I do not think many people fancied us to get to the knockout stage last season and we proved people wrong.

"These are the sort of games you want to be involved in, playing against the best teams Europe has to offer. It is the closest thing to international rugby and these are the games you want to perform well in.

"I got to know some of the Leinster guys when I was away with the Lions in 2013, guys like Jonny Sexton and Jamie Heaslip, and myself and the rest of the lads cannot wait to face them again."

Last season, Wasps narrowly lost to Leinster in Dublin then played in a thrilling draw in Coventry, This time around, Wade wants to make it two wins.

"We really want to play to our potential and try to make everything click, after going so close in the two games against them last season," added the England international.

"We are definitely going out there with the intention of putting in a performance and coming away with the win. Of course, that will not be an easy task. You only have to look at the quality they have in their squad and the calibre of the players they have coming back after the World Cup.

"They have a very tough set of forwards so it will be a big physical battle, but we can carry some confidence into the game after win over Gloucester in the Premiership."