We’ll have to be at our very best, says Blackett
Blackett says every match for the rest of the season is a knock-out one for Wasps who are in contention to finish fourth in the Premiership and travel to Edinburgh next weekend looking to reach the European Challenge Cup semi-final.
Wasps have been a team reborn since the start of the year when their injury list, which had at one time contained the names of more than 20 players, including the likes of Joe Launchbury, Jack Willis, Malekai Fekitoa, Alfie Barbeary and Paolo Odogwu, started to ease.
“We are trying to build momentum,” said head coach Blackett ahead of today’s trip to London Irish. “There is still plenty to work on, but we have won our last six matches in all competiLEE tions and I am happy with our structured attack and how our mauling has improved.
“With three Premiership matches left, we know that we cannot afford to lose between now and the end of the season if we are to finish fourth. We are going well, but we have not been at our absolute best. There is more in us.”
Wasps are unbeaten in their last six away matches to London Irish, but Blackett said that would hold little relevance on a day when both sides have to win to take their playoff chase into the next round of matches.
“They showed against Leicester in the Premiership Cup semi-final that they are one of the best attacking outfits in the league,” said Blackett. “They have threats from everywhere and it will be a big test for our defence.
“We won there last season and we beat them at home four months ago, but we know we are going to have to be at our very best against them this weekend.”
Blackett said he had changed the training regime as the season approached the home straight to ensure players remained fresh.
“It used to be three days on the bounce but now it is just two,” he said. “We then give them a day off and another one after the next training day.
“It is about freshening things up and also with so many players returning from injuries all at once, we had to manage them. With so many faces back, it does not feel like the end of the season.”