It was a busy weekend for Lawrence Dallaglio, one day punting Spanish property at the Homes Overseas exhibition at Earl's Court and the next leading Wasps to second place in the Zurich Premiership with another impressive victory over an out of sorts London Irish.
As to which was the more difficult task, only Dallaglio knows. Diplomacy would doubtless lead him to point to the late London Irish fightback which saw them score three tries without reply in the last 20 minutes, but in his heart he would probably admit that a two-bedroom finca in Marbella was tougher to shift.
Once London Irish, suffering from the crisis of kicking confidence that led Barry Everitt, the league's leading points-scorer last season to miss three penalties, had failed to breach the Wasps brick wall defence in the opening 10 minutes they fell apart. And with Dallaglio and Rob Howley working superbly together, Wasps poured through the cracks.
An opening penalty from Alex King was quickly followed by a clever piece of work from Howley which led to the first try. From a quick tap penalty, the former Welsh scrum-half darted through a gap and chipped into space behind Michael Horak, the Irish full-back. Paul Sampson swept through, collected the ball and dived over for the score.
Howley's performance, which included the second try on 31 minutes, hardly suggested a washed up international and Warren Gatland, the Wasps coach, was positively purring after the game. "I wouldn't be surprised if Wales come knocking on the door to get him back," he said.
A third try, this time from Shane Roiser, gave Wasps a 24-0 cushion at the break and they extended this further on 58 minutes when Craig Dowd rolled over from close range.
With that score securing the bonus point and effectively wrapping up the game, the substitutions set in and the shape of the match changed. The Exiles picked up a try through the replacement prop Mike Worsley and the hard-working Declan Danaher got two right at the end. It put a little gloss on a disappointing day for the Irish but it failed to wipe the smile off Dallaglio's face.
London Irish: Horak; Sackey, Burrows (Mapletoft, 52), Appleford, Bishop; Everitt, Edwards (Barrett, 78); Hatley (M Worsley, 51), Drotske, Hardwick (Durant, 63), Strudwick (capt), Casey (Burke, 44), Danaher, Dawson, Gustard.
Tries: M Worsley, Danaher 2. Cons : Everitt 3.
Wasps: Sampson; Roiser, Abbott (Logan, 52), Denny, Lewsey; King (Van Guisbergen, 72), Howley (Wood, 66); Dowd (Molloy, 66), Greening (Gotting, 66), Green, Shaw (Beardshaw, 72), Birkett, J Worsley, Volley, Dallaglio (capt) (McCarthy, 78).
Tries: Sampson, Howley, Roiser, Dowd. Cons: King 4. Pen: King.
Attendance: 9,627.
Referee: A Rolland (Ireland).
