Danny Cipriani and Josh Lewsey indulge in some shadow-boxing following Lewsey's try © Getty Images

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Matches London Wasps 25 - 11 Castres Olympique

Tournaments/Tours Heineken Cup

Teams Castres Olympique | London Wasps

Director of rugby Ian McGeechan was delighted to see Wasps return to form with a 25-11 Heineken Cup victory over Castres. Wasps came into the game on the back of five defeats from six matches but determined to produce a performance of high tempo and high intensity.

And they lived up to it, racing into a 17-0 lead inside 22 minutes with tries from Paul Sackey and Tom Voyce before Danny Cipriani sent Josh Lewsey over for the third. Wasps could not work a fourth try to earn a bonus point - but McGeechan was relieved to see his side back in familiar shape.

"I thought we started well and we were back to a lot of the things we do well," said McGeechan. "Castres were working hard. They are a big pack and we had to get things right today and we did.

"I thought it was a good defensive performance and offensively I thought we were very slick today. ``The experienced players had to take a lead and show up for real. I thought all of them did today. They delivered big time.

"It was obvious it meant a lot to everyone today. Honesty is what this club is about and I thought the honesty came out today. A lot of hard work went in and we got the benefits."

Cipriani, making his second start after recovering from a fractured dislocation of the ankle, kicked 10 points and completed the full 80 minutes. He created the third try for Lewsey and the pair then poked fun at the furore created by their training ground bust-up on Tuesday.

Lewsey had criticised Cipriani for missing tackles during a one-on-one defensive drill and, with passions high, he ended up punching the Wasps and England fly-half.

It became front page news but training-ground flare-ups are not uncommon in rugby. Cipriani and Lewsey celebrated the try with a bit of good-humoured shadow boxing before embracing.

"The problem is we need to stop them kissing each other at training as well,"laughed McGeechan. "Danny needed 80 minutes. He is still coming back to form and match fitness. He did OK. He is getting there."

Lewsey, who has been struggling for form this season, was moved to outside centre in place of the injured Dominic Waldouck. McGeechan said, "I thought Josh was outstanding today. His carrying, his decision-making gave the forwards something to work off and it put us on the front foot."

Intensity was one key element Wasps felt had been missing from their game in the opening weeks of the season - but Castres certainly felt the full force of it today.

That was a step or two up from what we have been used to in France," said Castres fly-half Cameron McIntyre. "Their tackling and contact work in the first 20 minutes was top class."

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