Wasps fear relegation scrap

WASPS have belatedly accepted that they are facing a fight for survival and dealing with the ‘shock’, ‘nervous anxiety’ and high-stakes pressure which is stalking half of the Premiership clubs. Dai Young’s side have been in free-fall for several months, due to a long sequence of defeats against the backdrop of a savage injury crisis. the Coventry-based club are now eighth in the league table and host 11th-placed Worcester at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday knowing that another loss at home could see them join Leicester as a marquee club in grave danger of being ejected from the top division. they are no longer in denial. Wasps recognise the magnitude of their plight. ‘We’ve put ourselves in a position where we’ve got to look over our shoulders but all the clubs outside the top six are in the same boat,’ said Young, the director of rugby. ‘there is pressure on us. I don’t think our confidence is in a fantastic place. ‘I’d be a liar to say that it is. Wins build confidence and that hasn’t been happening, so there’s a bit of nervousness. Look at the Premiership table and it’s pretty crazy — with the team in fourth on nine wins and the bottom team on six — so there’s only three wins between fourth and 12th. We’re all in shock and there’s a lot of nervous anxiety across the Premiership. ‘the players all know what is at stake, but we have perhaps been a bit slow to recognise that. ‘On occasions I think they’ve felt that we’ll win games and head up the table. But now you can really sense the attitude has changed. We have to come up with some wins. ‘What the salary cap has done is really equalise the talent across the Premiership.’