Young sees way ahead as attack sharpens for Premiership fight
Wasps director of rugby Dai Young believes his side are heading in the right direction after finally slipping out of the European Champions Cup with defeat at the Stade Ernest-Wallon.
Tries from Yoann Huget, Joe Tekori, Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont plus 17 points from the boot of Thomas Ramos was enough to secure the win.
Wasps scored three tries of their own courtesy of Josh Bassett, Willie Le Roux and Ross Neal with Billy Searle kicking 12 points.
“I thought our attack was probably the best it has been all season and we put some really good stints in defence,” said former Wales prop Young.
“It wasn’t enough on the day so we are never going to rejoice and pat ourselves on the back for losing. But if we can build on this, it will take a good team to beat us.
“I thought we looked more like the old Wasps out there. I’ve said in the last two to three weeks we’re looking more like the team we want to be.
“We want to win every game, but Toulouse are a very, very good team and no one has really got near them. It’s no crime to lose, but it’s a massive game for us next weekend in the Premiership [against Bath].”
Toulouse came out of the blocks firing with Huget intercepting a loose pass from Le Roux to score. But Wasps had not travelled all this way to lie down with Bassett next to score after some lovely handling from Le Roux and Thomas Young.
Ugo Mola’s side scored two further tries in the first half with Tekori and Ntamack scoring from short range. The tit-for-tat nature of this clash continued into the second-half with Dupont latching on to a well-timed inside pass for Huget to secure the try bonus point. However, Neale hit back for Wasps before Dupont secured the win with his second touchdown.
“I felt we were out of the competition coming here, but it means too much to me personally and the club so we were never going to throw the towel in,” said Young. “I think the scoreline was a little bit unkind to us in the end. They probably had a little bit too much for us, but there were lots of positives. The young players have some European experience. It doesn’t get much harder than coming here.
“I thought they all stood up and they can be proud of their efforts. All we need is a win and that will only add to the belief moving forward.”