Wasps boss Tony Hanks paid tribute to Lachlan Mitchell's bravery after his heroic tackle denied Northampton a last gasp win.
They don't come much braver than Lachie says Wasps boss
Wasps director of rugby Tony Hanks has paid tribute to Lachlan Mitchell's bravery after his heroic try-saving tackle prevented Northampton snatching a last gasp win.
Mitchell, who had replaced Danny Cipriani at full-back just minutes earlier, was hit full in the face when he hurled himself at Chris Ashton to deny the Saints winger as he closed in on the line.
After almost 10 minutes of treatment on the pitch the Australian was carried off on a stretcher and taken to Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury as a precautionary measure.
Hanks however, confirmed there was no concern over any long-term damage to Mitchell, whom he praised for his heroism.
"There aren't too many braver than Lachie," he said. "And that tackle he made at the end was a try-saving tackle and a big moment for us.
"It personifies what this team is about. Lachie's gone to hospital but he was awake when he left.
"We are hoping for the moment it's all precautionary but obviously, after a collision like that, you don't want to take any chances."
Composure
A number of Wasps players hobbled off battered and bruised at the final whistle, testimony to the effort they made in holding off Northampton's furious late onslaught.
"It's twice we've had to do that now, added Hanks. "It probably mattered a bit more today than when we did it at Bath because we had a bit of a buffer there.
"I thought the composure we showed was great. We didn't give away any penalties, we defended well, trusted each other and it's a credit to the guys who came off the bench."
Northampton were slow out of the blocks at Adams Park, which was a concern to director of rugby Jim Mallinder.
"It was the first 40 minutes where we lost the game," he said.
"Our set-piece was poor, we didn't look after the ball and we gave far too many penalties away. When that happens and you go in 17-3 down, you are always going to struggle.
"We improved in the second half and that's what we have to take positives from."
