Wasps record emphatic win over Leinster in Champions Cup
Last Updated: 15/11/15 9:18pm
Wasps recorded an emphatic 33-6 Champions Cup win over Leinster at the RDS Arena.
Charles Piutau was named man of the match for his defensive performance as well as his counter-attacking in the No 15 jersey, and though the All Black scored a try in the final minute, it was tries from Christian Wade and Joe Simpson that set up a vital win away from home for Wasps in what is a difficult Champions Cup group.
The boot of Ruaridh Jackson was worth 13 points while a pair of penalties from Jonny Sexton were the only points scored by the home side as they failed to ignite much attack in front of their home fans.
It was Wasps who opened the scoring in Dublin. Jack McGrath, preferred to Cian Healy in the No 1 jersey, was penalised at an early scrum and Jackson stepped up to hand his side the lead from the tee.
His effort was cancelled out by Sexton in the ninth minute, after Wasps strayed offside during a dangerous attack from Leinster on the back of a poor clearance kick from Elliot Daly.
Sexton missed an opportunity to give the hosts the lead moments later when Carlo Festuccia failed to roll away at the ruck, with the Irish fly-half unable to overcome the heavy wind as he sent it right.
Festuccia gave the Leinster No 10 another chance when he once again infringed at the breakdown, and at the second time of calling Sexton sent it through the uprights before Jackson drew his side level at the end of the first quarter.
Wasps then threatened down the left touchline thanks to deft work from Piuatu, and though the visitors were unable to score a try, he took a long-range kick at goal to make it 9-6 to Wasps after Daly was taken high in the tackle.
A clever box kick from Simpson and a good chase from Wade then brought about the first try of the game.
The kick went in behind Dave Kearney who was left flailing by the second bounce, and on the third bounce Wade plucked it from above a grounded Kearney to cross for an easy score and a 10-point lead for his side to take into the break.
Simpson got the scoring under way in the second half when a break from Frank Halai put the scrum-half into space behind the Leinster defence, and he raced away for the try and a 23-6 lead following the conversion.
The Wasps' defence held off any attempts from Leinster to fight their way back into the game, and the match was ended as a contest when Wasps' scrum dominance led to a penalty and Daly lined up a long-range kick at goal.
The centre left it short, but there was a knock-on when Leinster tried to collect the ball before Kearney made the ill-advised decision to play the ball from an offside position which resulted in a penalty under his side's poles.
Jackson placed the ball on the tee and slotted a regulation kick before Piutau rounded off the victory with a try in the corner with seconds remaining for an important win as Leinster fell to just their third defeat in 15 European pool games.
