Wasps director of rugby Tony Hanks admits Simon Shaw has a "spring in his step", after seeing the lock further his prospects of an England recall by guiding his side to an LV= Cup victory over London Irish.

Shaw, 36, missed the opening two months of the season with a metatarsal injury but made his first start of the campaign in Wasps' 24-20 win at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday.

He blotted his copybook with a late yellow card for a cynical knock-on at the side of a ruck, as Wasps were forced to withstand fierce Irish pressure at the death.

But Shaw at least got through a full match unscathed and will now wait to see if England manager Martin Johnson recalls him to the national-team squad for their final two autumn Tests, against Argentina next Saturday and New Zealand seven days later.

Hanks said of the giant British and Irish Lions second-rower: "'Shawsy' will look at it as a mixed performance - but from our point of view, it's great to get him through.

"He's feeling all right. The foot's fine, and he's got a spring in his step at the moment.

"We know he's a big man, but sometimes he looks so much bigger than the others - he has that presence around him."

Asked whether he expects Shaw to be called up by England this week, Hanks added: "I've got no expectation.

"I think they [England's selectors] were keen to give him a couple of weeks. I haven't spoken to the England management but I guess they were going to see how they got on yesterday, and how 'Shawsy' got on today.

"But if they don't want to use him, I'm sure we can find a place for him here. We're delighted to have 'Shawsy' back."

Hanks put out a close-to-full-strength team for Wasps' opening LV= Cup match - but they were tested to the full by a largely second-choice Exiles line-up.

They took an 18-10 lead into the break thanks to tries by David Lemi and Mark Van Gisbergen, as well as eight points from the boot of Dave Walder.

Peter Hewat, who went over for a first-half try, repeated the dose in the 53rd minute to bring the scores to 18-17. But a Walder penalty and Lemi's drop goal saw the visitors home.

Shaw and Joe Simpson were sent to the sin-bin in the final few seconds as Irish looked to find a match-winning try, but Wasps held on.

Hanks said: "It's been a good week for us, coming off the disappointment of last week (a Premiership defeat to Leeds). We changed things around; the players did everything in terms of preparation.

"There were a lot of players out there looking to make an impression - and if I had come to watch, I would have gone him pretty happy. It was entertaining."

Exiles head coach Toby Booth thought his under-strength team acquitted themselves well, saying: "I thought that was one of the most entertaining games of rugby I've seen for a while - irrespective of the result, which is obviously everything.

"I'm disappointed we lost but I was very encouraged by our ambition - and we played with the ball in hand.

"We made 13 changes; I wanted to answer a few questions on the depth of our squad, and we have shown we have good strength in depth.

"I think collectively it shows what a good place London Irish is at the moment."