Young wants improvement from Wasps

Wasps boss Dai Young has urged improvement from his side after they were given a scare by Worcester Warriors on Sunday.

The impressive Christian Wade ran in two sparkling tries to take his season total to 14, putting him clear as the league’s leading try scorer, as Young’s side battled to a 40-33 win against a spirited Worcester.

The win means Wasps have confirmed their place in the Premiership’s semi-finals after just 18 rounds of rugby, which equals the record set by Saracens in 2014.

Wade’s brace also took him level with Kenny Logan as Wasps’ all-time leading try scorer with 79.

And Young identified the 25-year-old winger as being the key to the hosts getting over the line, but added that his side needs to show improvement ahead of next week’s Champions Cup quarter-final against Leinster.

“Christian Wade was probably the difference today,” said Young.

“[Leinster fly-half Jonathan] Sexton will look to attack him in the air [next week] which everyone does because he’s not going to grow bigger in the next week.

“But I’m not worried by that. Very rarely does Christian not beat the first man. I wouldn’t swap him for anyone.

“We certainly won’t go to Dublin and get a result playing like that.

“We can make up all the excuses under the sun. But the reality is the performance didn’t match the five points and a win.”

Worcester scored two late tries through Biyi Alo and Jackson Willison to secure two potentially invaluable bonus points, taking them nine clear of bottom side Bristol with four matches to play.

And director of rugby Gary Gold was full of praise for his players after their efforts against the league leaders.

“I am incredibly proud,” he said.

“We came with the intention to win and that’s what our focus had been on.

“We knew we would have to put in an unbelievably strong performance and I am not sure I could have asked for anything more from the players.

“We conceded some relatively quick tries to go 33-19 down but showed some unbelievable fight and great spirit to come back.

“There was a lot riding on it for us because every bonus point is critically important.”

“I was really chuffed for the boys and the reserves who came on and made such a big difference and got us our second bonus point.”