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Wasps flanker Thomas Young attempts to break clear in Round 1 against Munster Rugby
Wasps need to beat Munster Rugby at Thomond Park on Sunday to ensure they join the Irish province in the knockout stages of the Heineken Champions Cup – but they will have to overturn the record books to do so.
Munster have lost only two of their 26 home games against Gallagher Premiership clubs in the pool stage of the Heineken Champions Cup, with their last such defeat coming against Leicester Tigers in 2015/16 (19-31).
Wasps, who could still qualify if they lose as they occupy the final qualifying place from Pool B by three points, get their bid underway at 3.15pm in front of the BT Sport and beIN SPORTS cameras.
Other key facts:
- Munster have won three of their five games against Wasps in the Heineken Champions Cup (L2), including each of their last two clashes. Each of Munster’s three wins against Wasps have all come by margins of more than 16 points.
- Wasps won their last away game in the Heineken Champions Cup (24-8 v Dragons in 2020/21) after losing their previous seven games away from home. They have not won consecutive games on the road in the competition since November-December 2015 when they won two, a run that included their last win in Ireland, against Leinster Rugby (33-6).
- Only Union Bordeaux-Begles (11) have made more line-out steals than Munster (9) in the Heineken Champions Cup this season, while Wasps have the joint-lowest tally, with only one steal.
- Munster hooker Scott Buckley has completed 15/15 line-out throws in the Heineken Champions Cup this season, the most of any player to maintain a 100% line-out success rate.
- Munster flanker Peter O’Mahony has made 26 line-out takes this season, more than any other player, including a competition-high five steals.
If selected, 45-cap @IrishRugby international @DavidKilcoyne1 will become just the 12th player to reach the 200-appearance landmark for Munster against Wasps on Sunday at @ThomondStadium 👏👏👏
Read about his career to date ⤵️#MUNvWAS #SUAF 🔴
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) January 20, 2022
Quotes:
Munster Rugby head coach Johann van Graan: “We’ve put ourselves in a really good space, so it’s a massive game for us against Wasps next Sunday.”
Simon Zebo became Munster's all-time leading European try scorer when he scored against Wasps in this season's Heineken Champions Cup
Munster Rugby beat Wasps 45-7 at Thomond Park on Saturday, ending their opponents’ hopes of reaching the Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16.
Wasps came into the Pool B finale knowing a point would see them reach the knockout stage, but Munster controlled the vast majority of the contest as they wrapped up a third-place finish.
Munster crossed for the game’s first try within 10 minutes, scrum-half Conor Murray dotting after a staggering 21 phases of possession for the hosts.
The Irish province were outstanding with ball in hand and after Ben Healy nudged a penalty with just over a quarter of an hour gone, the fly-half set up a try for Simon Zebo as he hung up a kick for his winger in a well-worked set-piece move.
The score saw Zebo become Munster’s all-time leading European try scorer.
Wasps got on the board on 26 minutes when scrum-half Dan Robson dummied and squirmed over from close range following an extended period of pressure on the Munster line.
But Munster responded with a third score moments later, No.8 Gavin Coombes making a huge carry off a scrum before flanker Jack O’Donoghue crashed over.
"To even get one cap for my home province, but to get 150 is incredible! I'll cherish this one certainly for time to come." 😊
A special day and a special win for @Munsterrugby's Jack O'Donoghue 🙌#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/z6YPaczMsm
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) January 23, 2022
Wasps pushed for a second try at the end of the first half, and another string of phases on the Munster line saw the hosts concede a number of penalties before Coombes was shown a yellow card.
Munster held out until the break, however, and started the second half in the ascendancy despite their numerical disadvantage, powering over for a fourth try through prop Jeremy Loughman on 43 minutes.
And shortly after Munster were back up to 15, Wasps lost a man as Robson was sin binned for coming in at the side, although the visitors commendably survived the 10-minute period without conceding.
But Wasps struggled to put Munster under any real pressure, even when back to their full complement, and their qualification hopes slipped away as a scrappy second half wore on.
The Gallagher Premiership side’s misery was compounded in the final moments of the game, with fly-half Charlie Atkinson yellow carded before Zebo crossed in the corner for his second try and Rory Scannell dotted down for Munster’s sixth with the clock in the red.
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