London Wasps have put themselves in pole position to qualify for the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals as Pool 3 winners - and that is the measure of how far they have come over the last year.
The 30-16 Round 4 victory over Bayonne at Adams Park swept Dai Young's club five points clear of the French side with matches against Rugby Mogliano and Newport Gwent Dragons to come in the New Year for the 2003 tournament champions.
But it was far from plain sailing and Young praised his players' courage after they withstood a second half barrage from Bayonne.
"I was certainly concerned - at 20-16 that was a game we would have lost last season," said Young. "We would have been looking around for somebody to inspire and lead us, but everyone stood up and we didn't wilt.
"I was hugely pleased with the defensive effort of the team, they really dug in deep, under lots of pressure.
"And once we had an opportunity we came away with the match-winning try. I'm really pleased. In essence we probably won that game twice."
Andrea Masi eased the nerves when he went over for a late try, Young adding: "For 40 minutes I thought we were excellent. Our game management was outstanding. It was all us putting pressure on them and we were coming away with points and building up a nice little lead.
"But I wasn't the happiest person at half-time. Trying to run the ball after 41 minutes wasn't the cleverest thing and that gave them something to cling to. We knew they would come out with more confidence and belief than they would have had at 17-0.
"It was frustrating on occasion, but I don't think we'd be Wasps if we didn't set the pulses racing. We do a couple of silly things but we keep everyone guessing that's for sure."
