Wasps coach David Young has told his side to put an “unacceptable” display behind them when they face Stade Francais in a European Rugby Champions Cup playoff on Sunday.
Both clubs are vying for the 20th and final spot in next season’s inaugural tournament, the successor to the European Cup, after finishing seventh in the English Premiership (Wasps) and France’s Top 14 (Stade).
Now they meet in a two-leg playoff, with the opening match at Wasps’ Adams Park ground, north-west of London, on Sunday.
Wasps finished the Premiership season with a humiliating 74-13 defeat by title-chasers Northampton and Young said: “Last weekend’s performance was unacceptable.
“We were all incredibly disappointed, especially with the way we lacked fight when we went behind.
“That performance certainly won’t be brushed under the carpet, but the detailed post-mortem (examination) must wait until after these two games.
“I think people will understand that we are not in a position where we can dwell on it too long,” the former Wales and British and Irish Lions prop added.
“There has been a lot of hurt around the camp, so it may be the ideal time to go into this game.
“We’ve all looked at where we need to improve, and I have been very pleased with the response players have shown in training. The intensity has been good, and now we need to translate that on to the pitch on Sunday.”
Young has made several changes to his side as Wasps look to establish a strong position ahead of the second leg in Paris a week on Saturday.
Behind the scrum, captain Chris Bell and Tom Varndell are the only backs who remain following the Northampton game, while six changes to the pack include starts for former Stade player James Haskell, England second row Joe Launchbury and Italy’s Carlo Festuccia.
“Defence normally gives an indication of the mindset of a team, and that mindset wasn’t right the last couple of games (against Northampton and Newcastle), given the way we leaked tries,” Young said.
“Certainly, up until those two games, our defence and attitude had been excellent, so we need to recapture that hunger and desire and produce the work-rate and attitude in defence to give ourselves a good chance. I am sure we will do that on Sunday.”
