CHARLIE Davies was shown the standard at Adams Park yesterday afternoon, as the third-choice Wasps scrum half found himself up against one of modern rugby's greats.

The 21-year-old was only playing because of injuries to Joe Simpson and Nic Berry, but it was his job to somehow try and keep up with French mastermind Dmitri Yashvili.

Davies, who joined Wasps from Stade Francais but was playing against Yashvili for the first time, said: “In the build up during the week, the analysis was pretty much all about Yashvili. He's their lynchpin so I knew from the off it was going to be a really big ask.

“He's got so much experience and is a world class player. He showed that with his kicking, he won the game for them.

“He knows when to turn it on or off. He's so calm and collected that everything just galvanises around him. He controlled it well, he kicked at the right times and bossed the forwards really well.

“It's just a learning curve for me and I'll watch the tapes and watch what I did wrong and what he did well and I can only move forward from this.”

Davies and co might have nullified Yashvili with a bit more composure at the end. Having battled back to level from 23-9 behind, they lost the game when Davies himself was penalised six minutes from time.

He said: “I'm gutted. This team has had a really tough season and at half time we said we had a real opportunity to turn it back round and win some silverware for this club.

“We got back in it and unfortunately I gave away a silly penalty at the end. It was stupid in your own half.

“I thought their player had his hands on the ball so dived through to try and slow it down and I was deemed to be off my feet and offside. At the time I thought I was all right, but I've got to watch the tapes back.”