RUGBY
Wasps inflict severe dent in Leinster’s European aspirations
By Daire Walsh
LEINSTER’s prospects for qualification to the knock-out stages of the European Rugby Champions Cup suffered a serious set-back at the RDS on Sunday afternoon, when they were on the receiving end of a eye-opening 33-6 defeat at the hands of English outfit Wasps. Tries from Christian Wade, Joe Simpson and Charles Piutau helped Dai Young’s visitors to finish with 27 points to spare, and with their next Pool 5 encounter taking place this Saturday against Bath in the Recreation Ground, Leinster coach Leo Cullen and his charges have been left with a mountain to climb.
The Blues did have some notable injury casualties heading into this contest, with Rob Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald and Ben Te’o all sidelined for their opening European tie under the guidance of Cullen. Recently-appointed club captain Isa Nacewa was also ruled out at the eleventh hour, but Leinster were still able to field 12 players who featured at the recent Rugby World Cup.
For the second game in succession, Naas’ Jamie Heaslip led out the home side (who included Suncroft’s Fergus McFadden at outside centre), and even though they conceded an early penalty to Wasps out-half Ruaridh Jackson, Jonathan Sexton responded with a routine place-kick for Leinster.
Jackson and Sexton subsequently swapped three-pointers, before Wasps centre Elliot Daly edged his side back into the ascendancy. Leinster were still in contention heading towards the half-hour mark, but after an awkward bounce inside the ’22’ led to a slip from Dave Kearney, Wade touched down for a simple converted try. This ensured that Wasps brought a 16-6 cushion into the second period, and when scrum-half Simpson powered through for another five-pointer, Leinster were facing a sizeable deficit. Their second-half performance was extremely error-strewn, and this was summed up by a Jack Conan knock-on from a long-range Jackson penalty. The Scottish international converted the place-kick opportunity that followed this mistake, and with former All Black Piutau squeezing through for another try on the stroke of 80 minutes, Leinster’s biggest-ever home European loss was confirmed.
The Leinster ‘A’ side had greater fortune in their British & Irish Cup opener on Saturday, however, as a 73rd minute Ross Byrne drop-goal was enough to secure a 12-9 success over Rotherham Titans in Clifton Lane. Kildare duo Billy Dardis and Tadhg Beirne were included in the starting line-up for this fixture, while Joey Carbery of Athy also featured in the match-day squad.
Penalties from Byrne and Steve Crosbie (a brace) helped the ‘A’s (who are jointly-coached by Shaun Berne and Hugh Hogan) to establish a 9-6 interval advantage, and although Ross Jones added his third successful place-kick for Rotherham upon the resumption, Byrne ultimately provided Leinster with the edge.
It was also an eventful weekend for the Ireland women’s team, who played their first-ever autumn international against England at Twickenham Stoop on Saturday. Cill Dara star Aine Donnelly deputised for the injured Jenny Murphy on her first international appearance, but despite performing admirably in difficult conditions, a late try from Izzy Noel-Smith helped the hosts to secure an 8-3 win.