Over two tight encounters last season with just five points separating the sides, Leinster claimed a narrow win at the RDS and then booked their Champions Cup quarter-final berth with a tense draw in Coventry. Another intriguing battle lies ahead on Sunday.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 5: Sunday, November 15
LEINSTER v WASPS, the RDS, 1pm (live BT Sport Europe/RTÉ Radio 1/highlights TG4)
Team News: Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made nine changes to his starting line-up from the Scarlets game as the province take their first steps in Pool 5 of the Champions Cup.
Isa Nacewa is back to captain the province from full-back in what will be his first European appearance since the 2013 Challenge Cup final. Zane Kirchner continues on the right wing with Dave Kearney coming in on the left to complete the back-three.
With Ben Te’o and Luke Fitzgerald ruled out, Noel Reid and Fergus McFadden pair up in the centre. Reid has played in all of Leinster’s games so far this season and also started the corresponding fixture last season at inside centre, while McFadden also has experience of playing in the number 13 jersey against Wasps having featured there in the 2013 Challenge Cup quarter-final.
Eoin Reddan gets the nod to start at scrum half against his former club with whom he won a Heineken Cup in 2007 and an English Premiership title in 2008, while his half-back partner Jonathan Sexton is set for his first RDS start since returning from Racing 92.
Only Mike Ross is retained in the front row at tighthead prop having scored only his second ever try for Leinster in last weekend’s win over the Scarlets. Jack McGrath, winning his 80th Leinster cap, and Richardt Strauss complete the front row at loosehead and hooker.
Devin Toner and Mike McCarthy form an experienced second row combination with over 450 professional club appearances between them. McCarthy started out his professional career with Wasps and made six appearances in total before moving to Connacht.
In the back row Jordi Murphy and Sean O’Brien are selected at blindside and openside flanker respectively, while Jamie Heaslip will make his 75th Champions Cup appearance when he lines out at the base of the scrum.
On the bench, New Zealander Hayden Triggs is in line to make his European debut as is former World Rugby Junior Player of the Year nominee Garry Ringrose.
Leinster v Wasps tickets are still on sale on leinsterrugby.ie, and will be available on match day from 11.30am at the ticket office inside the Anglesea Road gate.
Meanwhile, Wasps co-captain Matt Mullan will skipper the Coventry-based club when they renew rivalries with Leinster, while James Haskell misses out on the first European round due to a knee injury.
The 23-year-old Sam Jones comes into the starting line-up at blindside flanker, alongside Fijian-born Nathan Hughes and vastly-experienced Australian George Smith.
The second row partnership again features England international Joe Launchbury and Wales’ Bradley Davies, while, in the front row, Jake Cooper-Woolley returns at tighthead prop in place of Lorenzo Cittadini.
Wasps’ back-line is unchanged from last Sunday’s 23-3 Aviva Premiership win over Gloucester. All Blacks Charles Piutau and Frank Halai will make their European debuts in Dublin, while out-half Ruaridh Jackson and replacement scrum half Dan Robson are also set to make their Champions Cup bows for Wasps.
LEINSTER: Isa Nacewa (capt); Zane Kirchner, Fergus McFadden, Noel Reid, Dave Kearney; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Jack McGrath, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Mike McCarthy, Jordi Murphy, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Cian Healy, Tadhg Furlong, Hayden Triggs, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Ian Madigan, Garry Ringrose.
WASPS: Charles Piutau; Christian Wade, Elliot Daly, Ben Jacobs, Frank Halai; Ruaridh Jackson, Joe Simpson; Matt Mullan (capt), Carlo Festuccia, Jake Cooper-Woolley, Joe Launchbury, Bradley Davies, Sam Jones, George Smith, Nathan Hughes.
Replacements: Ashley Johnson, Simon McIntyre, Phil Swainston, James Gaskell, Guy Thompson, Dan Robson, Alex Lozowski, Sailosi Tagicakibau.
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referees: Cyril Lafon, Thomas Dejean (both France)
Television Match Official: Philippe Bonhoure (France)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Leinster to win: 3/10; Draw: 18/1; Wasps to win: 11/4
Pre-Match Quotes: Girvan Dempsey (Leinster) – “We started off with a block of 16 games in a row, every weekend. Now we are down to 12 and we aren’t looking much further than Wasps at the moment because we know they are a big threat.
“Bath are around the corner after that. We go to Ulster after that, Glasgow away, Toulon away and home, so you have that run into Christmas and then you are down in Thomond against Munster and back up here against Connacht – so if you look at the whole block you could get overawed.
“That is why we have narrowed our focus and tried to make sure we are good on Sunday and make sure we are focused for that because Wasps showed (last Sunday) that they are starting to hit a vein of form as they get guys back in.
“Premiership clubs have found things a bit difficult because of the stop-start nature of the Premiership over that World Cup period but I think now, in the last couple of weeks, you have started to see them implement some of their style and their game plan. They are starting to gel a bit better now.
“(Charles) Piutau, I have watched him through the ITM (Cup) and for Auckland (Blues). He’s a very dangerous attacking player. He’s shown he is a very strong, physical guy and he’s elusive as well. He is a huge and fantastic addition to their squad.
“(Frank) Halai, likewise, is a good player and they’ve (Christian) Wade, on the other wing, who is lightning quick. They’ve got a very strong, very quick back three. Look at the midfield, they have options. They’ve Elliot Daly and (Ben) Jacobs, Jimmy Downey.
“Jimmy (Gopperth) is going to miss out (through suspension). That’s disappointing. It would have been good to have him back to the RDS.”
Dai Young (Wasps) – “You can tell how much excitement there is in the squad about Europe starting. This will be some of our new signings’ first taste of the European Cup and those of us who have been part of it over the years, know the special occasion that awaits them in Dublin.
“We have huge respect for Leinster Rugby. They are one of the most successful sides in European history and have performed consistently at the highest level for as many years as I can remember. But our squad won’t be daunted by the trip to the RDS, it’s one we are all really looking forward to.
“It was a really tight game over there last season and I thought our younger guys equipped themselves really well on their first performance in the Champions Cup. Last season’s experience can only be beneficial.
“We have an exciting young team and we want to develop as quickly as we can, so the more big games we can play the better. We’ve brought in a little more experience this season and I’m sure those guys are looking forward to testing themselves against the best in Europe again as well.
“If we want to be successful and to be back among Europe’s best clubs, we have to play against the best. We’ve certainly got that in Leinster this weekend, Toulon in Coventry next weekend and then Bath. Win, lose or draw, we’ll be the better for it.”
Current Form – Leinster – (GUINNESS PRO12): Lost 16-9 away to Edinburgh; Won 23-15 at home to Cardiff Blues; Won 37-13 at home to Newport Gwent Dragons; Lost 25-14 away to the Scarlets; Won 23-18 at home to Glasgow Warriors; Won 27-3 away to Benetton Treviso; Won 19-15 at home to the Scarlets
Wasps – (Aviva Premiership): Lost 26-21 away to Harlequins; Won 16-9 at home to Bath; Lost 24-16 away to Leicester Tigers; Won 23-3 at home to Gloucester
Previous European Meetings: 6
Saturday, January 24, 2015 – Pool 2 – Wasps 20 Leinster 20, Ricoh Arena
Sunday, October 19, 2014 – Pool 2 – Leinster 25 Wasps 20, the RDS
Friday, April 5, 2013 – Challenge Cup Quarter-final – Wasps 28 Leinster 48, Adams Park
Saturday, January 17, 2009 – Pool 2 – London Wasps 19 Leinster 12, Twickenham
Saturday, October 18, 2008 – Pool 2 – Leinster 41 London Wasps 11, the RDS
Saturday, March 31, 2007 – European Cup Quarter-final – London Wasps 35 Leinster 13, Adams Park
Match Facts –
– There have been two wins each and one draw between these sides in the Champions Cup
– However, Leinster hold the edge over Wasps in the pool stages of the competition, losing just one of the four pool games contested between the sides (W2, D1)
– Leinster have lost just two of their last 14 pool games in the Champions Cup (W11, D1)
– Wasps have earned just one victory in their last five clashes against Irish opposition (D1, L3), though they had won eight of the 10 matches prior to that
– Wasps are aiming to win three consecutive away games in the pool stages for the first time since 2007
European Cup Records:
Leinster –
2014/15: Reached the semi-finals
2013/14: Reached the quarter-finals
2012/13: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2011/12: Champions
2010/11: Champions
2009/10: Reached the semi-finals
2008/09: Champions
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2006/07: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Reached the semi-finals
2004/05: Reached the quarter-finals
2003/04: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2002/03: Reached the semi-finals
2001/02: Reached the quarter-finals
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
1998/99: Failed to qualify from Pool A
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool A
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool B
1995/96: Reached the semi-finals
Wasps –
2014/15: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2008/09: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2006/07: Champions
2005/06: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2004/05: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2003/04: Champions
2001/02: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
1999/00: Reached the quarter-finals
1997/98: Reached the quarter-finals
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool D
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