DAI YOUNG has praised the strength and depth of his Wasps side after they comfortably dispatched Sale Sharks 39-12 to move six points away from the top of the Aviva Premiership.
Wasps dominated Sunday’s game at the Ricoh Arena from start to finish and went into the break 25-0 in front.
Charles Piutau scored the first try of the match inside the opening minute and both Rob Miller and Ashley Johnson also crossed the white line to score as Wasps took complete control of the match.
After the break Sale came back into the match after Jake Cooper-Woolley was yellow carded and the visitors scored two tries to reduce the deficit to 13 points.
But further scores from Jimmy Gopperth and Christian Wade ensured Wasps were able to claim an eighth win in nine league matches.
“There are obviously lots of things to improve on, but we certainly would’ve taken those five points before the game,” said Young. “We’re keeping the momentum moving in the right direction, so I’m pleased.
“We’ve stressed throughout this season that it’s about our whole squad, not a starting XV or even a match day 23. We’ve mixed it up as much as we can during this period. The bench that’s come on has done a good job again, so I was really pleased.
“We want to play rugby and obviously the weather is a little bit better and the ground’s a little bit faster and that gives us the opportunity, if we really hit our straps, to get the bonus point win, but most importantly the win is what we set out to achieve.”
Up next for Wasps is an Easter Sunday trip to 11th placed Newcastle Falcons before Young’s side host Northampton Saints at the Ricoh on April 3 for a match that will see both sides boosted by the return of their internation stars from the recent Six Nations tournament.
“The biggest priority is always the next match,” Young added. “There’s no easy game.
“You see how well the Falcons have been playing, the scalps they’ve already taken, but we know if we go to Newcastle and can get a result, that will put us in a very good position in the top four, with a really massive game against Northampton Saints which could have a real bearing on top four places.”
