Leinster blitz woeful Wasps

Leinster extended their lead at the top of Pool 2 with a comprehensive 41-11 bonus-point win over Wasps at the Royal Dublin Showground.

Wasps proved to be the architects of their own downfall as they gifted their Irish opponents a host of opportunities which they were intent on taking.

Brian O'Driscoll ignited the Leinster siege with two tries inside the first 15 minutes and despite Jeremy Staunton's score on the stroke of half-time Leinster turned on the style in the second period.

Luke Fitzgerald, Felipe Contepomi, Rocky Elsom and Rob Kearney went over in an utterly one-sided second 40 minutes as Wasps were simply blown away in the Irish capital.

On a blustery early evening in Dublin, Wasps attacked against a strong wind and immediately threatened when Paul Sackay came close to collecting his own chip-kick deep in the Leinster 22.

The breakthrough came on seven minutes when Tom Palmer misjudged an up and under and Leinster pressed forward menacingly.

Superb

The ball was switched to the flank and Kearney had the presence of mind to keep the ball alive with his foot before O'Driscoll collected and dived over for the opening score. Contepomi added the extras with ease as the hosts struck first.

After six phases of concerted pressure Wasps were handed the opportunity to notch their first points of the afternoon and Danny Cipriani duly obliged with a long-range penalty.

O'Driscoll then lit up the spectacle in the 14th minute with a superb piece of individual skill. After chipping the ball over the static Wasps backline he then kicked the ball over the onrushing Staunton before crossing for his second try of the night and his 23rd in the competition's history.

Wasps' cause was not aided on the half hour as Phil Vickery was then sent to the sinbin for deliberate offside and Contepomi increased the home side's lead to 15-3 with a routine penalty.

Despite their one-man disadvantage Wasps responded with their best move of the half as Tom Rees powered his way through the Leinster backline before winning a penalty which Cipriani converted.

At 15-6 down and the game heading towards half-time, Cipriani took the match by the scruff of the neck as he powered Wasps forward before feeding Saunders who went over in the corner to slash the deficit.

Bonus point

And despite O'Driscoll being withdrawn at half-time through injury the second half was as one-sided as it possibly could be. Fitzgerald started the ball rolling when he finished off a flowing Leinster move after Wasps had lost possession in their own 22.

Leinster were rampant as the half progressed and Wasps were once again guilty of shooting themselves in the foot as Contepomi charged down Riki Flutey's attempted clearance before crossing for the simplest of scores.

The converted try ensured Leinster received a bonus point and extended the defending Magners League champions's lead to 18 points.

With 17 minutes remaining Elsom bulldozed his way over the line following a blistering break from the impressive Jonathan Sexton. Contepomi's conversion put Leinster in total command at 36-11 as Wasps went into the final 15 minutes requiring a minor miracle.

However, Leinster were in a ruthless mood and it took the home side just four more minutes to increase their lead when Malcolm O'Kelly charged within two yards of the line before the impressive Kearney picked up the pieces to complete the scoring.