There was not much good cheer around Wasps’ new home at the end of the game. Not even to honour a rousing second-half comeback; not even when it became clear that the two points salvaged from this draw kept Wasps ahead of Harlequins in second place in Pool Two of the Champions Cup.
Perhaps it was exhaustion that formed the hush. Perhaps it was the loss of the 100% record at the new home. They have not been here long enough to establish any sort of winning tradition, but so emphatic have the performances been that the blip of a draw may have seemed a little worse than it was.
Leinster were sensational in the first half, full of polish and vigour and adventure. They completely outplayed the home team. By the end they were hanging on, still pool winners but pushed to the very limit. Their last act was to stand and hope and watch as Andy Goode positioned himself for the drop goal that would have won the game. It slid wide.
From the very start this was charged. Ashley Johnson, never one to go at anything other than full-bore, chased the kick-off and clattered into Dave Kearney, who happened to be two feet off the ground. It was one of the quicker yellow cards and there was a price to pay. While the flanker was away Wasps leaked a try, the result of a solid scrum that made ground, a drive by Jamie Heaslip and a brisk spread of the ball to Fergus McFadden. From the touchline Ian Madigan converted. Johnson looked on mournfully.
If there was a plus side to the first contact of the game it was the departure of Dave Kearney after four minutes, who had hurt his shoulder in Johnson’s challenge. Before the half-hour was reached, another Ireland squad player was making his exit, Eoin Reddan giving way to Isaac Boss. This was a good day for the Leinster coach, Matt O’Connor; not so easy on the eye for Joe Schmidt, in charge of Ireland.
Wasps were under pressure in every department, but especially the scrummage and the breakdown. Leinster drove through the middle of the tackle area or spread the ball wide. Dave Kearney’s replacement, Darragh Fanning, tall, direct and flame-haired, was soon involved on the charge. Even more incisive were the Leinster runners in midfield, with Jimmy Gopperth, who next season will be playing for Wasps, setting up opportunities for Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald.
Gopperth running a show smoothly may not have been such good news on the Ireland front for Ian Madigan, but from inside-centre he was as conspicuous in attack of any of the other runners. He had a busy game if not a perfect one. He missed two penalties and then kicked a punt straight into touch, but in the next breath he was making a searing break. He was full of versatility and cheek.
Wasps had to hang on and hope it was a storm that would pass. They made a good fist of this frustrating shift without a decent share of the ball. Goode landed a difficult penalty and when Johnson restarted his game, Wasps trailed only 7-3.
The return of Johnson brought numbers up to a full contingent but not for long. Just as Leinster were having to readjust to the loss of Reddan and Wasps might have seen the squeeze on them slacken, Lorenzo Cittadini failed to release a player at the tackle and he was sent to the bin. Goode again landed a difficult penalty, but Madigan had kicked two for the visitors, and a prop down, the pressure was on Wasps again.
It told when Boss touched down from close range for a try that carried a certain strangeness to it. The referee, Jérôme Garcès, let play continue, so confused was the action around Boss’s dab for the line. Gopperth certainly scored on the other side of the posts but a replay confirmed the validity of the first effort.
What was crystal clear was that Leinster led 20-6 at half-time and were cruising to the last eight. Wasps would have to produce something remarkable not to be on the wrong end of a thumping. They did and prevented Leinster from scoring another point, while adding 14 of their own through two tries.
It was not just the finishing from close quarters that told of their reinvigorated effort up front, but also the general increase in tempo and confidence as the game wore on.
Matt Mullan and Nathan Hughes were running through defenders long before they scored their tries and James Haskell was his usual self, conspicuous over the ball and indefatigable with his tackling. The result might have been different if Tom Varndell had not had a try disallowed for a bit of crossing obstruction in front of him.
On the other hand the outcome may have gone the other way after Leinster dragged the noble Haskell to the bottom of a ruck and the Wasps captain was cruelly penalised for not rolling away. Madigan missed the penalty – he would end with three successes from seven attempts.
The result might have been different, too, if Gopperth had landed his drop goal with six minutes left. But it would have remarkably different and rapturously received had Goode stayed straight with his drop at goal at the death. As it was, it missed and a grand game of European rugby came to a silent conclusion.
