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London Wasps welcome Viadana to High Wycombe knowing a home quarter-final in is their own hands. - 18/01/2014 12:28
London Wasps welcome Viadana to High Wycombe knowing a home quarter-final in is their own hands.
Wasps secured a place in the last eight by winning Pool 4 with a week to spare as they continued their 100 per cent record in Round 5. The 2003 Amlin Challenge Cup winners achieved that goal in style as they beat Bayonne 26-13 at the Stade Jean Dauger, when defeat would have handed the French outfit the initiative heading into this week’s action.
A draw or even two losing bonus points will be enough to cement a home quarter-final, although they may even be assured of that before kick off if Biarritz beat Sale Sharks in the Basque Country.
Wasps can no longer finish as top seeds for the tournament, though, after Bath bagged a bonus point win at home to Bordeaux-Begles on Thursday to move six points clear of their English rivals in the overall standings.
Anything other than a repeat of Bath’s result would be a major surprise but a win of any sorts will ensure they finish as second seeds and will play the third of the three Heineken Cup teams who join the competition in April.
Wasps won the reverse fixture by a record scoreline in Italy three months ago as they touched down for an incredible 14 tries in a 90-17 success at the Stadio Comuncale Pierluigi Zaffanella.
Viadana shipped a further 183 points in their next three games but they will travel to England on a high having held Grenoble to a surprise draw last time out. That result was the first time Viadana had avoided defeat in Europe since they beat Mont de Marsan in December 2008 and a similar score at Adams Park would be the shock of the pool stages in this year’s competition.
London Wasps enjoyed a try fest against Viadana at Adams Park and as tournament second seeds will relish home advantage in the April quarter-finals. - 19/01/2014 16:08
London Wasps enjoyed a try fest against Viadana at Adams Park and as tournament second seeds will relish home advantage in the April quarter-finals.
Wasps secured a place in the last eight by winning Pool 4 with a week to spare, the 2003 Amlin Challenge Cup winners achieving that goal in style as they beat Bayonne 26-13 at the Stade Jean Dauger,
Wasps won the reverse fixture against Viadana by a record scoreline in Italy three months ago as they touched down for an incredible 14 tries in a 90-17 success at the Stadio Comuncale Pierluigi Zaffanella and there was more of the same in Round 6.
Dai Young’s team were forced into an 11th hour change with James Haskell ruled out through illness but they made light of that to once again run riot against the Italians with 10 tries.
The highlight of those was the hat-trick from full back Elliot Daly scored in 16 whirlwind first half minutes after flanker Ashley Johnson had got the scoreboard ticking over and making the most of a great driving maul with their first.
Daly went over in the left corner for his first and Wasps’ second but Viadana did get off the mark themselves when wing Nicola Sintich capitalised on some sloppy midfield defence.
Once Daly had enjoyed adding two more for his hat-trick and banking the bonus point after just 26 minutes, left wing Tom Varndell joined the party for the fifth and then the 10th as the Italians were ripped apart.
The inevitable rush of replacements brought a halt to Wasps’ scoring and No8 Mirko Monfrino got a second for Viadana to remind Wasps there was still work to do.
Wasps fired back with some sharp tempo and replacements William Helu, Joe Simpson and Taione Vea all cashed in before outside half Carlisle got their ninth to go with his seven conversions.
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