European Rugby Champions Cup
Wasps enjoy dream start at Leinster
ESPN Staff
November 15, 2015
Report Match details
Date/Time: Nov 15, 2015, 13:00 local, 13:00 GMT
Venue: Royal Dublin Society, Dublin
Leinster 6 - 33 Wasps
Attendance: 16791  Half-time: 6 - 16
Pens: Sexton 2
Tries: Piutau, Simpson, Wade
Cons: Jackson 2, Lozowski
Pens: Daly, Jackson 3
Leinster's Dave Kearney is tackled by Wasps' Ben Jacobs during the European Champions Cup, pool five match at the RDS Arena, Ballsbridge, Ireland.
Picture date: Sunday November 15, 2015. See PA story RUGBYU Leinster. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire.
Leinster's Dave Kearney battles past Wasps' Ben Jacobs
© Getty Images
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Leinster are already under pressure in their heavyweight European Champions Cup pool after losing 33-6 to a clinical Wasps team at the RDS.

The Irish province fell to just their third defeat in 15 European pool games, delivering a disappointingly flat performance at the start of a campaign that takes them to Bath next Saturday and defending champions Toulon next month.

The first half bubbled along nicely, European debutant Charles Piutau proving dangerous on the counter and Noel Reid standing out in the Leinster midfield. Wasps took their chances though, Christian Wade's 29th-minute converted try adding to three penalties from Ruaridh Jackson (two) and Elliot Daly for a 16-6 interval lead.

Joe Simpson then combined with Frank Halai for a cracking seven-pointer and during the final half-hour, disjointed Leinster were unable to add to Jonathan Sexton's two first-half kicks.

A close-range penalty from Jackson, coupled with a last-minute try from man of the match Piutau, condemned Leinster to their heaviest European loss since a defeat by the same scoreline at Toulouse eight years ago.

Ian Madigan was a late inclusion for Leinster at full-back, taking over from Isa Nacewa (jarred knee) with Jamie Heaslip resuming as captain. The hosts fell behind to a terrific third-minute penalty from Jackson, who punished a scrum infringement from Jack McGrath.

Playing into a tricky wind, Leinster threatened out wide through Madigan before Sexton punished a Wasps offside to level the scores. He missed a difficult effort from further out before 20-plus phases yielded a central penalty in the 22 which Sexton tapped over.

A good counter-ruck from George Smith set up a levelling 40-metre kick from Jackson, who found the target with the aid of the left-hand post. Smith then gobbled up an overthrown Leinster line-out, launching a fleet-footed attack that almost saw Piutau put fellow All Black Halai over in the left corner - Dave Kearney came to the hosts' rescue.

Dai Young's side moved back in front thanks to a thumping 50-metre strike from Daly, and they gained further momentum with Wade's opportunist score. Simpson's clever box kick had Kearney racing back towards his tryline and a cruel bounce made him lose his footing before the hard-chasing Wade swooped to gather and score.

Leinster hammered away at a well-organised Wasps defence approaching the interval, working the short side but to no avail, and had Wade held onto a Piutau pass out wide Wasps might have manufactured a second try.

Having lost both Richardt Strauss and Sean O'Brien to concussion, Leinster had to replace Mike McCarthy on the resumption and they fell further behind just seven minutes in, Halai's midfield burst and offload sending scrum-half Simpson scampering away to the left of the posts. Jackson converted for 23-6.

Little was going right for Leinster, an overcooked touch-finder from Sexton and a forward pass from replacement Luke McGrath handing possession back to Wasps who watched Daly slide a monster penalty wide on the hour mark.

Daly missed another shot off the tee, but Kearney fumbled the off-target kick and Jack Conan played the ball from an offside position, allowing Jackson to slot a close-range penalty just moments later.

Despite some bright play from Fergus McFadden and eager youngster Garry Ringrose, Leinster leaked another try in the final seconds.

Sailosi Tagicakibau was short near the right corner, but television match official Philippe Bonhoure ruled that the ball bounced backwards as it fell into the hands of the waiting Piutau, whose debut Champions Cup score was expertly converted by replacement Alex Lozowski.

Wasps' Joe Simpson touches down for his side's second try at the RDS © Getty Images
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