Wasps' defence of their Heineken Cup crown was given a massive shot in the arm
by today's events in Pool One - starting with their nine-try demolition of
Italian minnows Calvisano.
The tournament champions needed a maximum return against Calvisano at Causeway
Stadium to have any hope of reaching the quarter-finals and the bonus point
arrived in first-half injury-time through Johnny O'Connor.
With Wasps' mission accomplished, all eyes turned to Welford Road where
Biarritz clinched a shock 21-17 triumph over Leicester to resurrect the
competition hopes of Lawrence Dallaglio and co.
The former England skipper must now take his team to the Parc des Sports
Aguilera next Saturday where a straight victory against the Pool One leaders
could be enough to book their place in the knock-out stages.
Success would prove a remarkable change in fortunes for Wasps given that last
month's two Heineken Cup defeats by Leicester over successive weekends had left
their European chances hanging by a thread.
Victory over Calvisano today was never in doubt and the try-fest was just what
Wasps needed given that if teams finish level on points, the eventual placings
will be settled by the try-count.
O'Connor and Mark van Gisbergen scored a brace each while Josh Lewsey, Craig
Dowd, Tom Voyce, Ben Gotting and Dallaglio also touched down in a one-sided
match which saw Calvisano's Giampiero de Carli sent off for fighting.
The wet conditions resulted in a catalogue of early errors from both sides
with one promising Calvisano attack - started by number eight Cabinet Elisabeth
- coming to an end when the ball was spilt close to Wasps' line.
Another blockbusting charge from Elisara wreaked further havoc in the home
defence and this time the Italians nearly scored but winger Ludovico Nitoglia
dropped the ball over the line after being tackled by Michael Roberts.
Calvisano paid for the missed try in the 13th minute when Wasps crossed with
Roberts making the initial break before the ball was released right to van
Gisbergen who crossed under the posts.
With the possibility of their presence in the quarter-finals being decided by
tries scored - and because of the need to claim a try-scoring bonus point today
- Wasps neglected to take the conversion, potentially giving them more time to
cross the whitewash.
They managed that for a second time when scrum-half Harvey Biljon found Lewsey
- selected at outside-centre in answer to the club's midfield injury problems -
and the England star dummied and slipped over from five yards out.
O'Connor claimed the third try in the 33rd minute after capitalising on
excellent work from Voyce and Joe Worsley before Calvisano's slim chances of
avoiding a thrashing receded further with the sin-binning of skipper Maurizio
Zaffiri.
Wasps wasted little time making their numerical superiority tell with O'Connor
emerging from the bottom of a pushover try after second row Richard Birkett had
taken a clean catch at the line-out, securing the crucial bonus point.
The Zurich Premiership champions were stunned two minutes after the interval
when fine footballing skills from centre Christian Zanoletti set up a try for
Nitoglia in the corner and the winger showed Wasps' cover a clean pair of
heels.
Fly-half Pablo Canavasio converted but normal service resumed in the 54th
minute when Voyce scampered over 30 yards after breaking from the back of a ruck
while good support work from Gotting resulted in Wasps' seventh try.
Gotting was the centre of attention in the 68th minute but for the wrong
reason after being used as a punchbag by substitute de Carli and the Italian
prop was shown a straight red card which ended his brief spell on the pitch.
Dallaglio barged his try over, Pino Patelli pulled one back which Zanoletti
converted and then Gisbergen bagged the ninth to complete the rout.
Teams
Wasps: van Gisbergen, Voyce, Lewsey, Abbott, Roberts, Brooks,
Biljon, Dowd, Gotting, Payne, Shaw, Birkett, Worsley, O'Connor,
Dallaglio.
Tries: van Gisbergen 2, Lewsey, O'Connor 2, Voyce, Dowd,
Gotting, Dallaglio.
Replacements: Erinle for Roberts (54).
Not Used: Barratt, Green, Hart, Haskell, Dawson, King.
Calvisano: Ravazzolo, Nitoglia, Murgier, Zanoletti, Mazzuccato,
Fraser, Canavosio, Bocca, Intoppa, Castrogiovanni, Ngauamo,
Purll, Mandelli, Zaffiri, Elisara.
Tries: Nitoglia, Patelli.
Cons: Fraser, Murgier.
Replacements: Patelli for Fraser (61),
Bernabo for Canavosio (66), De Carli for Bocca (61).
Not Used: Davo, Moretti, Pratichetti, Cattina.
Sin Bin: Zaffiri (40).
Sent Off: De Carli (68).
Att: 7,000
Ref: N Owens (Pontyberem).
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