Wasps director of rugby Tony Hanks was happy to watch his side grind out a 9-0 victory over Saracens to boost their play-off bid.
Edwards proud to keep Sarries scoreless
Wasps director of rugby Tony Hanks was happy to watch his side grind out a 9-0 victory over Saracens to boost their play-off bid.
Three penalties from Melbourne-bound fly-half Danny Cipriani saw Wasps move up to fourth in the Guinness Premiership table.
Hanks said: "We are happy with that. We knew we had to impose our game on them, and make sure we did not give them anything soft. In total we allowed them only two drop-goal attempts.
"One or two boys decided to try and run it out from the back. Perhaps they watched the Super 14 high-scorer over the weekend. But our forwards gave us the platform, and the scrum made us very proud.
"We did have a chat to the officials because there may have been a case for a penalty-try in the first half. And the fact that they sin-binned their prop actually helped them and they escaped without conceding."
When asked about the performance of Cipriani, head coach Shaun Edwards said: "No matter who is leaving or staying, they are all determined to make the play-offs and then try to make it to the final at Twickenham.
"I come from an era when players do move on, it's a professional game, and I am more concerned that our recruitment is pro-active. For example, we brought in Tom Varndell this season as part of that process.
"Keeping an opponent to zero is a bit special in this league, and we are proud of that. But next we go up to Leeds, a team who beat us at home and a team really beginning to make their mark in the battle for survival."
Trademark
Hanks added: "Watching Danny make those trademark breaks sometimes is heart-in-the-mouth stuff as coaches, but he played well, kicked his goals and the way he has approached training has been very good.
"Sometimes when a guy makes a decision like this, he settles down and gets on with his rugby. He really fronted up against Saracens, faced their big guys and did everything asked of him".
Saracens rugby director Brendan Venter admitted his side had failed to produce against their London rivals.
"I think the first half was very difficult because we played very badly, lacked intensity and they could have scored two tries against us," he said.
"It was a disappointment because our intensity is what we pride ourselves on.
"But we played much better in the second half, produced the better rugby but I find it astonishing that we did not receive one penalty.
"It's a tribute to their discipline in defence, but I do find it amazing that not once did they stray offside, put a hand in a ruck, commit any penalty offence.
"However, while the first half was very unlike us, we played well second half and while we lost, I have no problem with the second-half product.
Changes
The former South Africa centre also admitted he is looking at making changes to his side in the coming weeks.
He said: "We have now lost three league games, but I'm still looking at the season overall. Not least the progress of Alex Goode, who will be eased into the fly-half role later in the season, and he is well-equipped to handle the attention that will be on him when he settles into that jersey."
