A dreadful start.
Leinster’s Champions Cup campaign is on life support this evening after they were comprehensively beaten, 33-6, by Wasps at the RDS.
The hosts led 6-3 in the early going, but a mistake by Dave Kearney allowed winger Christian Wade slip in for Wasps’ first try and the visitors took a 16-6 lead into the break.
Leinster lost forwards Richardt Strauss, Sean O’Brien and Mike McCarthy to apparent head injuries and the hits kept coming after the break as Wasps stretched ahead with further tries for Joe Simpson and man-of-the-match Charles Piutau.
Leo Cullen has a huge job on his hands now, with victory at The Rec against Bath next week a must to ensure Leinster go into the back-to-back games against Toulon next month with realistic hopes.
Twitter could not believe the meek nature of Leinster’s display:
There is zero sense of leadership out there. No sense of "COME ON LADS".#Leinster
— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) November 15, 2015
Long stoppage for Wasps injury, chance to regather. No Leinster player is talking to another
— Rúaidhrí O'Connor (@RuaidhriOC) November 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/kjbohan/status/665909158911336448
#LEINvWAS Scoreline was bad but the performance from #Leinster was much more worrying. I hope the Bath game is very different next week!
— Ronan Quinn (@RonanJQuinn) November 15, 2015
Well done Wasps. Great performance esp Def! Leinster need overhaul of their attack & change of personnel in back line in particular
— CHUNGOS | SOLD OUT! (@ChungosNFTs) November 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/jimbaaab/status/665902756545355781
Wasps fans singing "is there a fire drill" when Leinster fans started to leave early. Hilarious.
— Dan O'Neill (@Dan_ONeill) November 15, 2015
Thought there was a typo in the Leinster vs Wasps score at first.
— Dan (@mufc_dan87) November 15, 2015
Although maybe there was another plan at work…
https://twitter.com/BarryMcGonigle_/status/665906601161814016
Meanwhile, Ulster fans were left drooling by the performance of All Black back Piutau, who is set to join the province next season.
Piutau could shred the Pro 12 when the Northern Hemisphere test players are away.
Jesus…..
— Paul Williams (@thepaulwilliams) November 15, 2015
Watching Piutau play so well for wasps is so frustrating! Just wish he was @UlsterRugby already! #pureclass
— Clare Hewitt (@chewit01) November 15, 2015
Ulster mouths are watering watching Charles Piutau at work… #LEINvWAS #Machine
— David McCormick (@McCormick_Dave) November 15, 2015
Yet there were a couple of spoilsports fearing that the New Zealander might be enticed to remain at Wasps beyond his scheduled one year.
https://twitter.com/gerard_meagher/status/665904253148520448
https://twitter.com/JackPitt94/status/665897406135975936
