Welsh internationals Arwel Thomas and Matthew Robinson ran riot as Swansea
tore Wasps apart to inflict a Heineken Cup hammering on the hapless Londoners at
St Helens.
Mercurial fly-half Thomas kicked 29 points including three second half
drop-goals, while wing Robinson claimed a tournament equalling four tries.
Wasps, despite an heroic performance in adversity from England back row man
Joe Worsley, were blown away by Swansea's dynamic duo.
Robinson collected his hat-trick before the interval, finishing off some
brilliant approach work from Swansea skipper Scott Gibbs and his outstanding
midfield colleague Mark Taylor.
Although Worsley scored two of Wasps' three tries, they were never in the game
and gave themselves far too much to do with Swansea leading 31-13 at the break.
Wasps begin their European campaign with three successive away games, a
challenging prospect for any side, but neither skipper Lawrence Dallaglio nor
rugby director Nigel Melville could have anticipated a rout on this scale.
Wasps came horribly unstuck on their last Heineken Cup trip to Wales, losing
against Llanelli nine months ago and sacrificing any chance of a quarter-final
home tie.
And Swansea seemed to thrive on being aware of Wasps' fallibility, tearing
into them with an unbelievable degree of commitment and determination.
While Robinson claimed the try-scoring honours, it was Thomas' all-round game
that really held Wasps in a trance.
At times during the second half he seemed to have the visitors in a trance,
toying with them during an eight minute spell when he slotted that drop-goal
hat-trick.
Only one of his nine goal kicks failed to find the target, and he rounded off
the afternoon with a flourish, converting Gibbs' fifth and final Swansea try
from the touch line.
Swansea were six points up inside 10 minutes, but Wasps scored from their
first dangerous attack, the impressive Worsley displaying all his pace and power
to burst through Swansea's defenders.
Kenny Logan converted for a narrow lead, and at that stage there was nothing
to suggest what a spectacular exhibition Swansea were reserving for a vociferous
home crowd.
Robinson opened his account on 20 minutes after scrum-half Rhodri Jones
cleverly switched the direction of attack, and Swansea were suddenly in
over-drive as Thomas converted and then booted another penalty.
It was now all hands on deck for the Wasps defence as Swansea attacked from
all angles, and that spirit of adventure was underlined 12 minutes before the
break when Taylor broke magnificently from inside his own half, Gibbs acted as
the link man and Robinson did the rest.
Swansea still had not finished though, and in first half injury time, a Wasps
defensive blunder was punished and the Swansea faithful were in raptures.
Robinson required less than three minutes of the second period to post try
number four, a touch down which put him level with a handful of other players to
claim four tries in a Heineken Cup match.
Wasps were now reduced to a role of bit-part players, and the closing 20
minutes belonged to Thomas.
Although Dallaglio's shell-shocked team conjured late conciliation tries for
Worsley and Josh Lewsey, nothing could steal Swansea's thunder and Gibbs duly
brought up the half century one minute from time.
Swansea face French champions Stade Francais at home next Saturday, when
another win would leave them handily placed in the quarter-final race from pool
two.
Wasps have got to regroup for the trip to Italians L'Aquila, but before then
can expect a hard week's work on the training field.
Swansea:
Tries: Gibbs, M. Robinson 4.
Cons: A. Thomas 4.
Pens: A. Thomas 4.
Drop Goals: A. Thomas 3.
Swansea: K. Morgan, Payne, Taylor, Gibbs, M. Robinson,
A. Thomas, R. Jones, Morris, G. Jenkins, B. Evans, Maulin,
Moore, Lewis, Charvis, H. Jenkins.
Not Used: Martens, C. Rees, Weatherley, Wells, Anthony,Griffiths, D. Thomas.
Wasps:
Tries: Lewsey, Worsley 2.
Cons: Logan 2.
Pens: Logan 3.
Wasps: Lewsey, Roiser, Denney,
Henderson, Logan, King, Wood,
Molloy, Leota, Green, Reed, Shaw, Worsley, Volley, Dallaglio.
Not Used: Page, Waters, Leek, Beardshaw, Birkett, Macer,Le Chevalier.
Att: 6,000
Ref: J Bume (France).
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