Launchbury to 'remember the pain'

Joe Launchbury has no doubt that England will need to "remember that pain" caused by last weekend's crushing RBS 6 Nations defeat against Wales in Cardiff.

Launchbury is now poised for a huge phase of the Aviva Premiership season with his club Wasps, starting against Adams Park visitors Northampton on Saturday. The Saints game is followed by further league appointments with Saracens and Leicester, sandwiching an Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final clash against Leinster.

"I hugely enjoyed being part of the England set-up," said lock Launchbury, 21. "It's a great environment, and in large parts of the tournament we were able to show that we were thriving on that, but of course we are bitterly disappointed with how it ended up. We have to remember that pain and remember how it felt to watch Wales lift the championship in front of us - we need to use it to get better."

Launchbury will now switch his focus back to Wasps, with the Londoners three points adrift of the fourth play-off place currently occupied by Northampton.

"It is a big challenge for us up front this weekend," he added.

"Northampton have some huge ball carriers, so we need to impose ourselves physically.

"The games we have left are challenging, but it is a really exciting time and we are not shying away from it.

"We want to be in the knock-out stages of major competitions, and it is up to us to take these next few weeks by the throat and take what we can out of it."