WASPS’ interim director of rugby Leon Holden did well not to wilt as the size of the job facing him or his successor reared over him yesterday afternoon.

His team were swatted away in a 39-3 embarrassment that left no one in any doubt that Wasps need urgent attention.

It’s not the first time this season they have capitulated so horribly and it won’t be the last unless Holden can work wonders.

He said: “We were beaten in nearly every facet of the game.

“It wasn’t flash, you saw it. We were second best in every area except set piece.

“I didn’t see the first game, but by all accounts it was similar.”

After two games against Northampton the accumulated score is 76-13 – ten tries to one against.

Holden said: “It could all unravel. We’ve got a strong second team out this week and all those guys are playing for places for next week.

“Experienced coaches like Shaun [Edwards, forwards coach] and myself have to get together with some of the old heads and make sure that we don’t drop our heads too much.”

Josh Lewsey is now one of those experienced heads, and he was called into action on Sunday after injuries to Ben Jacobs on Friday, Dom Waldouck during the warm up and Steve Kefu early in the first half.

Holden said: “We are a few backs short so we’ve got to get Josh Lewsey into shape pretty quickly.

“Ben Jacobs was struggling. We were hopeful that he was going to get through, but on Friday afternoon we made the decision that we couldn’t put him out there or we’d have risked totally tearing [his hamstring].

“Then we lost Dom Waldouck in the warm up and Steve Kefu came off so we had to put Jack Wallace in at centre, which is not his position.

“Those sort of things compound on themselves.”

Kefu actually had a glorious chance to score the game’s opening try when Dave Walder gave him a clear run in with the score at 0-3.

Inexplicably though, he was ponderous with the line gaping and Saints got back at him.

Holden said: “Looking back, at that point if we’d scored that try the game could have been different.

“But that’s all ifs and coulds.

“The boys are very disappointed and it’s not what we like to see. As coaches we feel for them. They’re hurting big time.

“We just have to get home, regroup, get those injuries sorted out and see if we can get a team together for London Irish.”