Vital to bring out the best in big games - Joe Launchbury

Wasps captain Joe Launchbury lamented on his team's inability to perform well in the pressure games ahead of their European Rugby Champions Cup opener this weekend.

In the previous season, Wasps topped the group stage winning four out of their six games and defeated Exeter Chiefs in the quarter-finals 25-24. However, their progress came to a halt when they locked horns with the eventual champions Saracens in the semi-final at the Madejski Stadium.

Wasps will be without Sam Jones for the first two rounds after the 24-year-old sustained an ankle injury during England's training camp in Brighton. Dai Young's men, who are grouped in Pool 2 begin their campaign with a clash against Zebre at Ricoh Arena on Saturday.

“We had a really good run last year; we got to the semi-finals and absolutely loved our time in Europe playing away from home and playing at home against big teams," said Launchbury.

“We want to try and replicate that as best we can.

“Probably the main lesson we have learnt so far is that it’s vital to get your best game out during those big games and that was the frustration from last year.

“I felt we worked really hard to get to that position, beating Exeter in the last kick of the game in the quarter-finals, and having the opportunity to play in the semi-finals.

“You always want to play your best game and we didn’t for whatever reason that day and I think that was the overriding frustration.”

Wasps, along with Leicester Tigers are the only clubs in England to have won the European Champions Cup twice with the Ricoh Arena outfit's last triumph coming in 2006/07 season. However, in the ongoing Aviva Premiership season, Wasps are placed second in the table with five wins from six games and Launchbury believes they have the momentum on their side.

“Personally I absolutely love playing in the Champions Cup, I grew up watching this competition and the huge clashes and seeing the rivalries come out in the club format.

“It’s a big deal to me and as a club we have been striving to play in this competition. We had a few years in the competition below, we enjoyed our time there but it’s nothing like playing in this competition.

“We have a tough group like we did last year so first and foremost we have to get through the first block of two, get some early wins and see where it takes us.

“There’s never an easy group in Europe and that is the joy of the competition.

“That’s why everyone is so desperate to play in it, because it truly tests you as a team.”