Clinical Wasps sting Leinster in Champions Cup opener
Christian Wade crossed for Wasps' first try
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REACTION
"Obviously we had a little bit of lady luck with the bounce of the ball. It certainly could have gone either way, I understand that.
"Even in that period, we were 9-6 (in front), and probably good for 9-6. We pretty much deserved to win. I thought we were pretty much good for it right across the board, really."
Dai Young, Wasps director of rugby
"It's very frustrating, very disappointing. It's one of the worst days I've had being involved with Leinster for a long time."
"We're very, very disappointed with the way we've gone about and conducted ourselves today.
"I definitely feel we can qualify. We've lost at home in the RDS before in our first game, and qualified from the pool.
"This pool was always going to be difficult, and we're making life very difficult for ourselves. But it's important that we stand up now and be counted as individuals and as a collective."
Leo Cullen, Leinster head coach
Wasps handed Leinster a 33-6 defeat at the RDS to put the Irish province under presure in their European Champions Cup pool.
Leinster suffered just their third defeat in 15 European games, putting in a disappointingly flat performance at the start of a campaign that sees them take on Bath next weekend and then play reigning champions Toulon.
Charles Piatau, making his European debut for Wasps, and Leinster's Noel Reid stood out in the first half but Wasps were clinical, Christian Wade scoring a try in the 29th minute which was converted, and penalties from Ruaridh Jackson (two) and Elliot Daly put them 16-6 ahead.
Joe Simpson crossed in the second half with Leinster unable to add to two Jonny Sexton kicks in the first half before Jackson landed another penalty and Piutau dotted down late on.
Ian Madigan was a late inclusion for Leinster as Isa Nacewa was ruled out with a jarred knee and they were quickly behind when Jackson landed a penalty in the third minute after a scrum infringment from Jack McGrath.
Playing into the wind, Leinster threatened out wide before Sexton punished an offside to level the scores. He then missed a more difficult kick only to put Leinster ahead following a move of more than 20 phases produced a central penalty.
Jackson then levelled the scores for Wasps with a 40-metre kick, via the left-hand post and they were ahead again when Daly landed a kick from 50 metres.
Wade's opportunistic score after Simpson's clever box kick gave Wasps more daylight and they needed all of their defensive resolve to prevent Leinster scoring after hammering away at the line.
Leinster, who lost Richardt Strauss and Sean O'Brien to concussion and also had to replace Mike McCarthy in the second half, were further behind just seven minutes into the second half when Frank Halai burst through and offloaded for Simpson to finish, Jackson converting.
Nothing was going Leinster's way while Daly attempted another long-range penalty but missed the target. After another long penalty attempt from Daly was gathered by Leinster, Dave Kearney fumbled, Jack Conan played the ball from an offside position, and that handed Jackson the chance to score again from in front of the posts, which he snapped up.
Wasps third try came in the closing moments when Piutau marked a fine debut with a score, which was brilliantly converted by replacement Alex Lozowski.
