Opposition view: Super Rugby shaped Wasps' success at Saints, says Blackett

Blackett steered his side to an impressive 34-21 success at Franklin's Gardens on Sunday, with Wasps bagging a try bonus point in the process.

Josh Bassett doubled up, with Jack Willis and Ben Harris also scoring.

Wasps were ruthless when they were given chances, while they built much of their game on their work at the breakdown, with flankers Jack Willis and Thomas Young drawing praise.

And Blackett revealed watching Super Rugby, which returned much quicker than the Gallagher Premiership during the Covid-19 pandemic, had a big impact on his decisions.

"I think if you look the way Super Rugby was, players will get used to it (the breakdown laws) quicker, and I also think that the referees will get used and I think we will find a middle ground," Blackett said.

"We played two out-and-out sevens, plus we had Brad Shields who is pretty good over the ball as well.

"You like to think it would help us, we selected a team first week having watched the Super Rugby and having seen the (Premiership) games this weekend, it probably backed up our opinion of the back row we chose.

And on his side's back row prowess, Blackett added: "It was great to see.

"I thought all of our back row was good.

"Obviously Thomas got the television man of the match, but any of the three could've got it.

"I thought they were really good in terms of in and around the breakdown, a couple of vital steals.

"I think Jack is proving himself at this moment in time.

"He keeps working hard, he's one of the guys who has a last off the training ground, first on, type mentality.

"He won't die wondering within his career."

Saints only scored twice, through Alex Mitchell and David Ribbans, despite the fact Wasps were twice reduced to 14 men due to sin-binnings for Malakai Fekitoa and Lima Sopoaga.

And Blackett said: "I thought that we held them out and we were on the wrong side of the discipline front.

"We spent a lot of time defending in our own 22, I thought we held it really well and I think that won us the game.

"Our set piece was good, our attack was clinical.

"I still think we can get better in terms of our attack - I thought we were a little bit loose on our turnover, and a bit on our composure, that's what we expected considering we've not played in a while."