Munster v London Wasps

Former Bath and England out-half Stuart Barnes stated last week that London Wasps have still got some way to go to surpass, or even replicate, the four-year dominance of Leicester Tigers.

Courtesy of Des Berry

Former Bath and England out-half Stuart Barnes stated last week that London Wasps have still got some way to go to surpass, or even replicate, the four-year dominance of Leicester Tigers over all-comers in their own domestic league, the Zurich Premiership, and on the playing fields around Europe.

However, there is no doubt that they are on the right road to long-term supremacy.

Wasps are the reigning Zurich Premiership champions. Warren Gatland s men have not lost, on that particular front, since their 32-22 loss to the Tigers at Welford Road on November 8th.

Since then, Bath, Northampton and Gloucester have been humbled in an eleven game winning stretch. With two rounds of the Zurich Premiership down for decision, Wasps are one point behind leaders Bath and closing in fast.

As Munster coach Alan Gaffney said on Tuesday: Wasps are the form side in England and, probably, in Europe .

On Sunday last, Gatland had to call big guns Lawrence Dallaglio, Simon Shaw, Josh Lewsey, Rob Howley and Craig Dowd from the bench to close out a narrow 11-7 win over Leeds Tykes in the Premiership at Headingley.

Clearly, Gatland wanted to avoid making use of these players ahead of the Heineken Cup semi-final joust with Munster at a sold-out Lansdowne Road this Sunday.

“The result was the important thing. I had hoped that I wouldn’t have to send them on, but the ground conditions were terrible and it was important to get fresh legs on,” said Gatland.

“It was a satisfying day. We are guaranteed first or second in the table, and we will see if Bath can handle the pressure.”

The club that finishes the Zurich Premiership league in first position will go straight to the Premiership Final on Saturday May 29th. The second-placed club will have a home tie against the third in a play-off on Sunday May 16th.

The Heineken Cup Final will take place in Twickenham on the weekend in between these two dates. It could be a hectic fourteen days for Wasps, if they can cope with Munster. And that is the big if!

Former Wasp Rob Henderson made the move from London to Munster to prolong his injury-jinxed career and win a Heineken Cup medal with Munster.

“When you get to a semi-final, I don’t think it matters who you play. You are going to be up against one of the top teams anyway.

Wasps are something else. Their form since Christmas has been incredible. They are a team that gets stronger as the season progresses.

“Just look at the way they have blown away Northampton and Gloucester, two of the other top sides in the Premiership, said Henderson.

No doubt, Wasps will relish the opportunity to repeat their stunning away win at Perpignan in the Pool Stage and they have acknowledged that Munster at Lansdowne Road is not the same proposition as Munster at Thomond Park.

It should be more inspiring than intimidating.

We will be going into a gladiatorial environment at a neutral Lansdowne Road. We will have 3,000 or so Wasps fans there but the rest of the crowd will be cheering for Munster. We will be up against the odds, said scrum-half Robert Howley.

It will be an electric atmosphere and I believe a very close game to call. This is the serious business end of the tournament and what the Heineken Cup is all about .

He doesn t have to tell Munster players and supporters that. They know all about the feelings attached to the last four semi-finals and the heartbreak of final losses to Northampton and Leicester.