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European Champions Cup rugby: Leinster 6-33 Wasps – Premiership side thrash

In a Champions Cup pool that also includes reigning three-time champions Toulon and Bath, last season’s English Premiership runners-up – with only the victor guaranteed of progressing to the knock-out phases – away wins are like gold dust.

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Wasps’ margin of victory eclipsed Leinster’s defeat by Leicester at Donnybrook in 1996 to make it their heaviest home reverse in Europe and was the English side’s biggest victory on the road since they won 34-6 at Perpignan on the way to their first Heineken Cup triumph in 2004.

“We had composure and didn’t panic in defence”. It is up to us to make sure they don’t do that.

“The plan wasn’t to defend for periods like we did, but we worked for one another … and came out the other end”.

Ruaridh Jackson booted over a penalty goal on four minutes to give Wasps an early lead, but Johnny Sexton quickly levelled the scores after the visitors were penalised for a high tackle.

“I don’t think they played poorly today, I think we didn’t let them play”.

Piutau told the Daily Mail that All Blacks coach Steve Hansen told him his move to Ireland was not the reason for his omission, but the former Blues back remains unconvinced.

A ranging Joe Simpson box kick found territory in the Leinster 22′, and even though Dave Kearney was back covering, he seemed unaware that Wade was in pursuit.

Wasps must have been braced for a Leinster onslaught in the second half, but Dai Young’s side pressed home their advantage and Joe Simpson raced away to claim Wasps’ second try.

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.

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.

Wales fly-half Dan Biggar kicked 20 points as Fiji worldwide centre Josh Matavesi’s try nine minutes from time set the seal on a crucial Pool 2 victory.

James Short claimed the only try of the first half as the Chiefs led 10-6 at the break, but the visitors were second best after the interval.

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The Pool Five match between Toulon and Bath and Bordeaux-Begles’ Pool Two game against Clermont Auvergne were postponed following the horrific attacks in Paris on Friday.

Wasps captain James Haskell