DAI Young has challenged his players to respond to a test of character and quality when they take on London Irish next weekend.

Wasps were chastened in a 28-5 defeat to Bath at Adams Park yesterday, and Young has warned his team they need to be better in all facets next time out.

He said: “We have to regroup and I’m sure we’ll respond with energy, enthusiasm and commitment, but we have to respond with higher skill levels, higher accuracy and higher quality as well.

“[Bath] was our biggest test. They’ve been the form team and won every battle up front.

“We knew it was a step up. The teams we’ve played haven’t been of the same calibre up front as the guys we played [yesterday].

“We have to put our hands up and say we came second best. We failed, but we have to lick our wounds and come back stronger.

“It won’t all be forgotten, but we’ll certainly feel a little bit better about ourselves if we can bounce back and put in a big performance next week.”