Wasps finally rose from their European slump with a thumping victory over Llanelli last weekend – and boss Ian McGeechan has demanded a repeat performance against Gloucester on Boxing Day.
McGeechan – a member of the British & Irish Lions coaching set-up on the tour of New Zealand – rates Wasps’ 48-14 rout of Llanelli as their finest display of the season and the victory was enough to keep their slim European hopes mathematically alive.
In the league, Wasps have been solid if unspectacular. McGeechan now wants his men to carry their sparkling form into Boxing Day.
"I was very pleased with our performance against Llanelli last Sunday," he said.
"The players showed the class of rugby they are capable of playing. That is the standard that we expect from ourselves, and now we have to ensure we achieve that sort of performance on a consistent basis.
"Gloucester are formidable opponents. I am sure they will be in the mix at the end of the season. They have skill and pace in the backs as well as the power of the pack. We will need to put in a quality performance if we are to match them."
Gloucester have never won in the Premiership at the Causeway Stadium but boss Dean Ryan said: "We were on a bit of a roll before the autumn internationals and now we are back in the Premiership we have to rediscover that form.
"We want to challenge for the right to win at places like Wasps. They have been one of the form teams in the Premiership for a long time and they are a very tough side to beat."
Wasps, two points behind Guinness Premiership leaders Sale, will be hoping the Sharks slip up against Northampton.
