Wasps coach Shaun Edwards has paid tribute to David Walder after he led an astonishing second-half fightback against Leicester.
Wasps boss praises Londoners' fighting sprit after remarkable win
Wasps coach Shaun Edwards has paid tribute to David Walder after he led an astonishing second-half fightback in their 37-30 victory over Leicester on Saturday.
The former England fly-half dragged Wasps back from the brink with a ruthless display of goal-kicking and game-management after an appalling first-half defensive display saw the hosts trail 18-30 at the break.
"Our defence first half was poor but it was very good in the second." Edwards said. "We said at the break that we can go out there and win that game.
"With our fly-half David Walder on that form we made sure we did not go out there and try big plays in the second half but play sensibly.
"Mark van Gisbergen has some work to do in terms of defence as a result of that missed tackle for one of their tries, but then he made a try-saving tackle earlier, as he has often done.
"I told the boys to be calm and not chase things too much but get our defence solid and build our way back."
Rugby director Tony Hanks admitted: "Few people outside our camp would have given us much of a prayer of winning when we went off at half time. But we had bags of self-belief, and the forwards fronted up in the second half.
Tremendous
"It was so important for us to start our home programme with a win, and while we did make things tough for ourselves, I'm very proud of the way the players fronted up."
Despite displaying a cool exterior, Leicester rugby director Richard Cockerill admitted he was seething underneath after his side failed to capitalise on their 12-point half-time lead.
He said: "The second half performance was disappointing and while I seem calm, I'm angry inside. We did take two points from the game, but we should have had five.
"We could go home all doom and gloom and sulk, but on the other hand we played some tremendous stuff in the first half. We had opportunities but we coughed up ball and made mistakes.
"Then at the end, a mistake by Geordan (Murphy), sees them score a try and he's feeling down. But that guy has won more games for us than he has lost and will get our full support.
"We did suffer from losing Jeremy Staunton at half-time with an Achilles injury, which left us with two young lads in the key play-making areas. But all the players will be the better from this experience."
