Fierce and clinical Leinster swat Wasps

Leinster 41 Wasps 11:THE PROLIFERATION of ice packs clasped to joints and soft tissue by blue-clad players, seconds after the final whistle, was a graphic reminder of the ferocity of this Heineken Cup clash at the RDS.

Victory was the balm on a night when Leinster produced a stunning performance of raw intensity and ruthless precision.

Wasps are entitled to lament their numerous errors, the turnovers, their shoddy execution of the basics, but there was mitigation in the pressure exerted on them.

Leinster eyeballed the visitors, throwing down the gauntlet from the opening whistle. Bristling with aggression and tactically astute, they won pretty much every personal duel.

Exerting unrelenting pressure for all bar about 15 minutes - 10 in the first half and five near the end of the second - they not alone forced countless turnovers but were merciless in turning them into points. They scored six tries and but for a couple of passes that failed to go to hand could have tagged on a few more.

This was no canter. Leading 15-11 at the interval, against a side that had scored the final eight points of the half, Leinster would have been forgiven for nursing a few doubts as they headed down the tunnel.

Captain Leo Cullen had gone off after just 13 minutes, fracturing a collarbone that will keep him out for six to eight weeks.

Their talismanic centre and a two-try hero in those opening 40 minutes, Brian O'Driscoll, would not re-emerge from the dressing-room, succumbing to a knee injury. Leinster's response spoke volumes about their character and technical ability.

Devin Toner, Cullen's replacement, came of age on Saturday, and Jonno Sexton showed his mettle in putting behind him the disappointment of starting the last two games on the bench, to produce an assured display at outhalf.

Leinster shuffled the personnel deck without missing a beat, scoring 26 unanswered points in a half of rugby that was often sublime. Wasps simply could not cope as they were coursed the length and breadth of the RDS.

Singling out individuals may seem invidious following a brilliant team effort but there were several monumental personal contributions.

Girvan Dempsey was foot perfect, Shane Horgan, a colossus defensively and direct with the ball. The midfield partnership of O'Driscoll and his aide-de-camp Luke Fitzgerald sparkled under the floodlights. Felipe Contepomi displayed the brio of old, sniffing opportunities and evincing his customary elan with the boot.

Then there was Rob Kearney. It's hard to recall an exhibition of better fielding; one overhead take from a restart beggared belief.

The back line profited from the mature decision-making of the excellent Chris Whitaker, who provided an intelligent link between backs and forwards.

The front five worked tirelessly, carrying and fetching, making hard yards and thumping tackles with equal facility.

Malcolm O'Kelly took responsibility for the Wasps' restarts, gobbling up every ball that came his way. He even found time for a lung-bursting 60-metre gallop that led to Kearney's try, Leinster's sixth.

One of the game's most eagerly awaited contests was the battle of the backrows, the Leinster triumvirate of Rocky Elsom, Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip completely eclipsing their rivals.

Even in that rarefied company, Jennings deservedly won the man-of-the-match accolade. He was guilty of grand larceny at ruck and maul, made more tackles (18) than anyone else and with his verbal promptings ensured Leinster's intensity never waned.

Wasps could offer only cameos of their best, mostly in a seven-minute spell that yielded a penalty and a try for Jeremy Staunton; the latter, playing out of position, enduring a torrid evening.

Paul Sackey was a conspicuous threat, Josh Lewsey worked hard, Danny Cipriani mixed the good with the downright awful. Their pack worked diligently but when unable to bully the opposition could not implement Plan B.

Wasps' vaunted rush defence has troubled many an opponent, including Leinster, but this time the Irish found solutions.

They varied their gambits cleverly, getting front-foot ball from the pack to give the backs a little time and space and alternately kicking cleverly.

The kick-chase was brilliant while their defence - goal-line as well as scramble - proved wonderfully committed.

O'Driscoll's dominated the opening quarter of the contest, grabbing his two tries, the first coming from Contepomi's neat grubber kick and Kearney's soccer skills, the second hallmarked by skill and athleticism.

His contribution was far greater than just the tries; once again he looked sharp prior to picking up the knee injury.

By half-time Wasps had clawed their way back to within four points, a couple of Cipriani penalties and Staunton's try.

At first look, Dempsey appeared to be impeded in making a tackle, but Cipriani was pushed into him by Jennings rather than running a blocking line.

Leinster needed a big start to the second half and they got it, just two minutes after the resumption: Dempsey's block-down and great hands from CJ van der Linde and Sexton sent Fitzgerald scooting over in the corner.

Contepomi added the extras, as he would do again on 56 minutes after he had blocked Riki Flutey's attempted clearance and regathered to cross for his try.

Leinster had the bonus point but were still hungry, tagging on tries from Elsom and Kearney to complete the rout and fully merit the standing ovation from an enthralled crowd of 18,312.

SCORING SEQUENCE:4 mins: O'Driscoll try, Contepomi conversion, 7-0; 9: Cipriani pen, 7-3; 13: O'Driscoll try, 12-3; 30: Contepomi pen, 15-3; 33: Cipriani pen, 15-6; 37: Staunton try, 15-11 (half-time 15-11); 42: Fitzgerald try, Contepomi con, 22-11; 56: Contepomi try, con, 29-11; 63: Elsom try, Contepomi con, 36-11; 67: Kearney try, 41-11.

LEINSTER:G Dempsey; S Horgan, L Fitzgerald, B O'Driscoll, R Kearney; F Contepomi, C Whitaker; S Wright, B Jackman, CJ van der Linde; L Cullen (capt), M O'Kelly; R Elsom, S Jennings, J Heaslip. Replacements: D Toner for Cullen (13 mins); J Sexton for O'Driscoll (half-time); C Healy for van der Linde (64 mins); G Brown for Fitzgerald (68 mins); J Fogarty for Wright, S Keogh for O'Kelly (both 72 mins); C Keane for Whitaker (74 mins). Sinbinned: Toner (78 mins).

WASPS:J Staunton; P Sackey, J Lewsey, R Flutey, T Voyce; D Cipriani, E Reddan; T Payne, R Ibañez (capt), P Vickery; S Shaw, T Palmer; J Haskell, T Rees, J Worsley. Replacements: R Webber for Ibañez (53 mins); M van Gisbergen for Staunton (64 mins); P Barnard for Vickery, M Robinson for Reddan (both 68 mins); R Birkitt for Shaw (69 mins); S Betsen for Rees (72 mins). Sinbinned: Vickery (29 mins).

Referee:N Owens (Wales).