Jacob Umaga’s first-half red card meant the English club had to really dig in for their 30-22 home victory in Pool B.

“Probably the first 10 minutes we gave them too much respect - we held off them a bit too much,” Blackett reflected.

“After that, with fight and desire, we got ourselves into a lead and it was about how we dealt with the red card. [I’m] really pleased considering the age of some of those half-backs. It’s a pretty young backline and having to manage the game a man down, I’m really proud of them.”

Try-scorer Brad Shields, one of the more experienced Wasps players on the field, also praised the team’s “character”.

“I think we’ve shown a bit of character and a bit more fire,” said the former England back-row forward.

“We scrapped hard to win the ball back on our line with a couple of try-saving moments out there from our backs.

“The longer we can dig in together and the longer we can find those long phases - especially against a team like Toulouse, who like to throw the ball around - it’s just class.”

Wasps head coach Lee Blackett expressed pride in his young side after they stunned reigning European champions Stade Toulousain in Round 3 of the Heineken Champions Cup, despite playing more than half the game with 14 men.