Munster stung late on

Wasps 24 Munster 23: Holders Wasps proved their mettle against Munster in the Ricoh Arena after the visitors pushed them all the way in the opening game of pool five in the European Cup.

Wasps trailed 13-3, and then 23-13, but the Londoners twice wiped out those ominous deficits, with young England hopeful Danny Cipriani guiding them home, underlining his major selection credentials for this season's Six Nations Championship.

Cipriani, entrusted with outhalf duties, kicked 14 points and often looked the coolest customer on view during a red-hot clash between two mighty teams.

Centre Riki Flutey and lock George Skivington scored tries in each half for Wasps, denying a Munster side desperate to become top dogs in Europe once again.

Cipriani's opposite number Ronan O'Gara put his World Cup woes behind him in front of a 21,500 crowd in Coventry to deliver an assured tactical display.

But his 13-point haul - including conversions of first-half touchdowns from centre Rua Tipoki and full-back Shaun Payne - was not enough to buckle Wasps' resistance.

Having been drawn in this season's "Pool of Death," Wasps knew they could not afford to slip up at "home" on the opening weekend.

With French challengers Clermont Auvergne and seasoned Welsh contenders Llanelli Scarlets also lurking, defeat would have left them facing a fight for survival.

Wasps boss Ian McGeechan, making maximum use of his replacements' bench, took off captain Lawrence Dallaglio after 53 minutes, but the Londoners had just enough in the tank to prevail, even if they couldn't deny Munster a losing bonus point.

Wasps launched their European title defence without injured England World Cup trio Phil Vickery, Josh Lewsey and Joe Worsley, while Ireland lock Paul O'Connell (back) missed Munster's tournament opener.

Munster were skippered by O'Gara in the absence of O'Connell, with Dallaglio leading a Wasps side that included England lock Simon Shaw and France hooker Raphael Ibanez for their first club starts this season.

Wasps, having moved the game from their usual Adams Park home in High Wycombe, struggled to settle as O'Gara — who has scored more Heineken Cup points than any other player — slotted two short-range penalties either side of a successful Cipriani strike.

Flanker James Haskell's 17th-minute burst briefly troubled Munster, but the Irish side underlined their opening quarter dominance by carving open Wasps' much-vaunted defence.

Centre Lifeimi Mafi, who had repeatedly troubled Wasps, made another incisive break and his pass sent midfield partner Tipoki sprinting over unopposed.

O'Gara slotted the simple conversion, hoisting Munster 10 points clear, before Wasps were denied a Cipriani try when referee Malcolm Changleng ruled wing Paul Sackey had delivered a forward pass.

It appeared a marginal call by the Scottish official, but Wasps knew they had to respond before half-time. And their comeback was the stuff of champions as they plundered 10 unanswered points in two minutes.

Munster had no answer as Cipriani kicked his second penalty, then converted a Flutey try after the New Zealand capitalised on Payne's blunder under a kick to sprint over from 50 metres.

Cipriani caught their defence napping when he ran a penalty 15 metres from the Munster posts, but Sackey couldn't ground the ball.

Munster had no intention of lying down though, and they ended a pulsating half as they started it - on top.

The visitors' backrow all tried to rampage their way over Wasps' line, but a sublime kick into space by O'Gara unlocked the home defence and Payne gathered a kind bounce.

O'Gara added the touchline conversion, sending Munster into the dressing rooms 20-13 ahead.

O'Gara and Cipriani exchanged early second-half penalties before the impressively-assured Cipriani landed another three-pointer when Munster prop Marcus Horan was sin-binned for a technical infringement.

It meant Wasps were just four points adrift entering the closing quarter, and they quickly moved in front for the first time thanks to incisive running by Flutey and wing Tom Voyce.

Although Voyce was hauled down short of the line, supporting Skivington's lung-busting efforts in support were rewarded when he powered over for a stunning try.

Cipriani missed the conversion, yet Wasps got there in the end after another of those wonderfully-captivating Heineken Cup occasions.