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Wasps issue update on Wales backrow Young after getting 'outmuscled' by Munster
By PA
Wasps head coach Lee Blackett felt his injury-hit side were physically outmuscled by Munster in a chastening 45-7 Heineken Champions Cup defeat at Thomond Park.
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The absence of Alfie Barbeary and brothers Jack and Tom Willis, amongst others, was keenly felt in Limerick as Wasps, who also lost flanker Thomas Young late in the first half, were knocked out of the Champions Cup.
Dan Robson scored their only try in the 27th minute, as Munster, with a brace from Simon Zebo and converted efforts from Conor Murray, Jack O’Donoghue, Jeremy Loughman and Rory Scannell, advanced as Pool B’s third-place finishers.
“Obviously disappointed,” admitted Blackett afterwards. “I thought it was probably a step back from where we’d been the last few weeks (in those wins over Leicester and Toulouse).
“I just thought physically we lost our battle. I know I spoke a little bit before the game about probably a couple of carriers down from last week, and knew we had to be physical.
“We had a game-plan, we tried to play a little bit wider this week, but you’ve got to at least win mainline to get that and I thought we lost that battle.
Thomas Young comes off to receive further treatment for a head/neck injury.
Hopefully a speedy recovery for the Wasps Flanker 🙏#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/E1q91BQePu
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) January 23, 2022
“Then we’re trying to force things off the back foot, as a result. At times our skill level probably let us down as well. It’s hard to play once you’re on the back foot it’s about getting that go forward ball.”
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Young suffered a head injury and had to be stretchered off, with Blackett confirming that the Wales international will stay in hospital overnight and have some more tests on Monday.
“He will stay in hospital overnight. He will have some more tests tomorrow. We will know a lot more tomorrow and the club will give a statement as soon as we know.”
Munster boss Johann Van Graan confirmed that Keith Earls, who picked up a high leg strain in training and missed the game, should be fit for the start of Ireland’s Six Nations campaign.
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He also had high praise for young fly-half Ben Healy following an assured performance, which included 11 points with the boot and a deft assist for Zebo’s first try.
“We knew that Wasps were still in it (the Champions Cup) if they won the game, so we treated it as a knockout game,” said Van Graan.
“There was no specific message to Ben, just go out and enjoy it and steer the ship. I felt he had a really good game, the first one (assist) for Zeebs, that little chip for Zeebs. His decision making, pretty good defensively.”
The South African added: “We wanted to make sure we won the game and if the four tries were on offer, we wanted to take them.
“Obviously, Leicester got five points and ‘Quins won that game in the 83rd minute so the only thing that we could control was getting the five points, but real positives out of tonight’s game.”
