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Wasps’ Thomas Young in Round 1 action against Munster
Wasps will be hoping they can avoid setting a club record for consecutive home losses in the Heineken Champions Cup when they entertain holders Stade Toulousain on Saturday.
Lee Blackett’s side have been beaten in their last two Heineken Champions Cup games at the Coventry Building Society Arena, including a 35-14 defeat to Munster Rugby in Round 1, and have never lost three home games in a row in the competition.
The Pool B game starts at 1pm and is being broadcast live on Channel 4, Virgin Media, BT Sport and beIN SPORTS.
Other key facts:
- This will be the 11th clash in the Heineken Champions Cup between Toulouse and Wasps. The clubs are evenly split in their previous 10 encounters, each winning four games and drawing twice. The Gallagher Premiership club have lost only one of their last five games against Toulouse in the Heineken Champions Cup (W3 D1), but it came the last time they hosted this fixture, in 2018/19 (16-24).
- Wasps have lost four of their last five home games in the Heineken Champions Cup (W1), as many defeats as in their previous 39 games on home soil (W32 D3).
- Toulouse have won eight of their last nine away games in the Heineken Champions Cup, including their last four in a row, only once have they enjoyed a longer winning run on the road in the competition – a five-game streak from 1996 to 1998.
- Wasps made 10 dominant tackles in their last Heineken Champions Cup match, in Round 1 against Munster – no side has made more in a match in this season’s competition (Cardiff also 10 v Harlequins in Round 2).
- Despite playing just one game, Toulouse’s Antoine Dupont is one of just two players to reach double figures for defenders beaten in the Heineken Champions Cup this season (11), along with Munster’s Damian de Allende (12).
Wasps players celebrate their incredible win over Toulouse
Wasps earned a fantastic 30-22 win over Stade Toulousain in the Heineken Champions Cup on Saturday despite being reduced to 14 men in the first half.
Full-back Jacob Umaga was shown a red card on 33 minutes at Coventry Building Society Arena but the hosts battled hard and produced commendable defence to clinch a deserved victory over the reigning champions in Pool B.
Toulouse started with the poise and precision that earned them their fifth European crown last season, shipping the ball through the hands and winning a lineout in the corner five metres out.
A huge shunt from the resulting maul saw flanker Francois Cros dot down and full-back Thomas Ramos’ conversion from out wide saw them 7-0 up with less than two minutes on the clock.
But Wasps were undeterred by the early score and grew into the game, with prop Biyi Alo bundling over for their first try on 18 minutes, Jimmy Gopperth’s conversion drawing them level.
Defying the odds 👊@WaspsRugby defeat reigning champions @StadeToulousain with a man down for over half the game 😳#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/cMBI0zKiPf
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) January 15, 2022
And they continued to put Toulouse under pressure, racking up the penalties close to the visitors’ line before captain Brad Shields dotted down to put them in front moments later following a powerful driving maul.
Wasps continued to threaten Toulouse over the remainder of the half, but there would be a cruel twist as Umaga was sent off for a high tackle.
Ramos slotted the resulting penalty from in front of the posts, and the away side turned the screw over the final minutes, but Wasps would hold on to take their slender lead into the second half.
That advantage would be extended to seven points early on in the second period as Gopperth kicked a penalty on 42 minutes.
Wasps’ defence continued to hold firm, before Toulouse No.8 Anthony Jelonch was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on 55 minutes, making it 14 against 14 for 10 minutes.
Leicester Tigers one week, Toulouse the next.
Light work, @ABarbeary 😏
🐝 #HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/Y41bKj33jh
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) January 15, 2022
Gopperth slotted the resulting penalty leaving Wasps with a 10-point lead, but that margin was reduced to five points when Toulouse hooker Peter Mauvaka crashed over from close range on 61 minutes following successive rumbling mauls from the visitors.
But even with Toulouse back to their full compliment, Wasps would notch another try, executing a slick move from an attacking scrum with Heineken Star of the Match Alfie Barbeary eventually barging his way over.
Gopperth added the extras from the touchline to push them further ahead with 10 minutes to play, but a Toulouse onslaught would predictably ensue with replacement Emmanuel Meafou getting over the line, only for a TMO review to spot a double-movement.
Gopperth kicked another penalty in the closing stages to take his match tally to 15 points, and although Toulouse had the final say as substitute Paulo Tafili dotted down following another driving maul, Wasps had already secured a famous victory.
The Gallagher Premiership side visit Munster Rugby in Round 4 next weekend while Toulouse host Cardiff Rugby.
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