WASPS will sign off their Aviva Premiership life at Adams Park on Sunday and, on paper, they couldn’t have more accommodating opponents.
London Welsh are bottom of the table with no wins from six games and each of their opponents so far have not just beaten them, but beaten them well.
Welsh’s points difference is a staggering -225, with 36 tries against already.
Exeter, Bath and Harlequins have all scored more than a half-century of points against them, Sale and Gloucester managed 46 points each and the closest Welsh have come was a 23-3 home defeat to a previously winless Newcastle side.
Anything other than a drubbing at in Wycombe will be a shock.
Wasps director of rugby Dai Young said: “I’m worried about this game.
“They’ve shown in glimpses they can cause teams problems and are fighting for that first win.
“We need to make sure it’s not us and traditionally we don’t play our best rugby when we’re expected to win.
“That’s a mindset thing that we have to improve.
“The start is going to be hugely important. If we start well and get our noses in front we may be a difficult proposition for them.
“But if we give them lots to feed off early doors it could be a long afternoon for us.”
Wasps are fifth at the moment, but they are five points from fourth placed Bath while just one point separates them from eighth place.
Young said: “We want to be in the top six so we have to win these games and, realistically, we have to get five points.
“If you look at the other results, everybody has picked up five points so it’s points lost if we do not do that.”
That said, Young is expecting a fully motivated Welsh side on Sunday with more than a few links between the clubs.
Seven of their squad are former Wasps players and the connections continue in the backroom staff as well.
Young said: “To me, this is their cup final. There are a lot of connections between London Welsh and here and if they had to pick out one game to win this season it would be this one.
“They’ve also got two Welsh coaches who I know would love to put one over me and they have a hell of a lot of ex-Wasps players who would love to prove a point.
“There are so many connections, but we have to stand up to that.
“It’s also our last Aviva Premiership game at Adams Park so it’s important we sign off with a big performance to say thank-you to the supporters.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article