All Black full-back Charles Piutau led a free-running and defensively sound Wasps to a vital 33-6 hammering of three-time European champions Leinster in their opening Pool 5 fixture.
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In a group that also includes reigning three-time champions Toulon and Bath, last season’s English Premiership runners-up – with only the winner guaranteed of progressing to the knock-out phases – away wins are like gold dust.
An early Ruaridh Jackson penalty handed Wasps the lead before Johnny Sexton hit back with two of his own as Leinster camped out in the Wasps’ half.
Jackson levelled the scores in the 20th minute of a hard-hitting encounter at the RDS Arena. Dave Kearney was on hand to produce a great try-saving tackle on winger Frank Halai, who looked a real handful alongside fellow Kiwi and man-of-the-match Piutau.
Centre Elliot Daly stepped up to nail a long-range penalty to restore the visitors’ lead as Leinster infringed when trying to play their way out of their own 22m area.
Kearney was made to pay for a cruel bounce from a Joe Simpson box kick, electric winger Christian Wade skipping past the Ireland wideman for a simple dot down.
Wasps got the ideal start to the second period, Simpson scorching over for the team’s second try after Halai’s smart break and offload.
Piutau could shred the Pro 12 when the Northern Hemisphere test players are away. Jesus…..
— Paul Williams (@thepaulwilliams) November 15, 2015
Jackson’s conversion took Wasps out to 23-6 to leave Leinster a mountain to climb in the final 30 minutes. That was compounded after an elementary mistake saw replacement Jack Conan pick up a Kearney knock-on of a long-range Daly penalty kick in an offside position, Jackson making no mistake with the second opportunity in front of the posts.
Piutau was credited with a third try for Wasps after collecting a rebound from Sailosi Tagicakibau effort that fell just short of the line, the All Black perfectly placed to pick up and cross the whitewash.
Later on, Welsh region Ospreys hit back from a 10-6 half-time deficit to beat Exeter 25-13.
Wales fly-half Dan Biggar kicked 20 points as Fiji international Josh Matavesi’s try nine minutes from time set the seal on a crucial Pool 2 victory.
Exeter had been the better side before the break with James Short going over for their only try, while fly-half Gareth Steenson converted and booted two penalties, but they were overrun after half-time.
