Wasps looking up after return of ‘world-class’ Joe Launchbury in victory over Saracens

Joe Launchbury shrugged off nine months of mental and physical anguish to help inspire Wasps to a morale-boosting victory.

The England lock played the first half of this Premiership clash before being removed from the front line clearly feeling the pace and strain of his first competitive action since April.

The 30-year-old was soon back in the thick of the action following the career-threatening knee injury which also ended his hopes of a place on the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.

He was able to celebrate an important victory over a Saracens side determined to give absent director of rugby Mark McCall a huge lift following the Irishman’s decision to take a break from his post for medical reasons.

Lee Blackett, the Wasps head coach, praised Launchbury, who is keen to play himself back into the international scene having missed out on the Six Nations and won the last of his 69 caps against France 13 months ago.

“Joe is world class, especially in the maul,” Blackett said. “When he is around the ball he is quality whether that’s defence, attack or carrying. He did a load of good things on the field and it was brilliant to have him back. We planned to give him 40 minutes and we wanted our captain on the field from the start.

“This was a big win for us. Those teams above us had some good results and we know they can pull away if we don’t keep it going.”

Wasps raced into a 10-0 lead inside seven minutes. But Saracens were back on terms by the break.

Jimmy Gopperth, who kicked 16 points in total, succeeded with an early penalty before a slick Wasps move down the right involving wing Paolo Odogwu led to the supporting Dan Robson feeding Sam Spink and the centre sauntered over the line  unchallenged. Gopperth