Brian O'Driscoll produced a commanding performance in front of Lions boss Ian McGeechan as Leinster walloped Wasps to confirm their powerful Heineken Cup credentials.

The Ireland captain scored two early tries before limping off at half-time - but it was still a masterful midfield display by the Lions' 2005 captain.

Wasps rugby director McGeechan, who leads the Lions to South Africa next summer, had little to cheer as Leinster took charge of Pool Two.

And the Londoners now have it all to do in their quest for an automatic quarter-final place.

O'Driscoll struck twice during the opening 15 minutes and Wasps never seriously recovered, despite claiming a contentious Jeremy Staunton touchdown after prop Phil Vickery received a yellow card.

O'Driscoll's midfield partner Luke Fitzgerald posted a third try early in the second half, and there was no way back for a Wasps side that suffered their fifth defeat in all competitions this term.

Fly-half Felipe Contepomi piled on the misery by scoring Leinster's bonus-point try, with his four conversions and a penalty giving him a 16-point haul, while Australian recruit Rocky Elsom added a fifth touchdown and wing Rob Kearney also crossed.

Danny Cipriani kicked two Wasps penalties before Staunton's try, yet Leinster took charge after the break, critically scoring 14 unanswered points during the third quarter.

Cipriani and co are behind the eight-ball in pursuit of a third European title, with home and away wins against Edinburgh in December now their minimum requirement.

And it will be fascinating to see how they recover from their second-heaviest defeat in Heineken Cup history.

Ireland's record cap holder Malcolm O'Kelly returned for Leinster after missing their bonus-point victory over Edinburgh at Murrayfield last weekend.

O'Kelly partnered skipper Leo Cullen in the second row, while Wasps fielded an unchanged team following a comfortable win against Castres, which meant Cipriani making his third start of the season.

Conditions were perfect in front of a bumper crowd at the Royal Dublin Showground, with Wasps targeting only a third win of the campaign.

Wasps made a lively start, almost prospering from a Paul Sackey counter-attack that had Leinster's defence in disarray, but the home side still went ahead inside five minutes.

Referee Nigel Owens required video assistance before confirming O'Driscoll had successfully stretched to post a touchdown under immense pressure.

Contepomi slotted the wide-angled conversion, and Wasps already had a mountain to climb as they looked to halt Leinster's run of eight successive Heineken Cup home wins.

And their degree of difficulty intensified still inside the opening quarter, when O'Driscoll again caught Wasps off-guard.

There might have been an element of luck as O'Driscoll twice kicked over retreating Wasps defenders, but the quality of his finishing could not be questioned.

O'Driscoll was rightly lauded by his team-mates, and even though Contepomi missed the conversion, Wasps were struggling to stay in the contest at 12-3 adrift.

The visitors had spells of pressure inside Leinster's 22, but an occasional forced pass or poor kick undermined their efforts to cut Leinster's lead.

With the cushion of a nine-point advantage, Leinster adopted a patient approach building towards the interval, yet Wasps ended the first-half one man down.

Former England skipper Vickery was sin-binned for killing possession, and Contepomi slotted an easy resulting penalty while Wasps lock Simon Shaw received treatment.

Cipriani was not afraid to take the game to Leinster, launching one thrilling attack from inside his 22, yet he had to be content with a second penalty before Wasps poached a controversial try.

Staunton crossed in the corner, but the try appeared to be assisted by a combination of Wasps blocking and crossing - mainly courtesy of Cipriani - only for Owens to wave play on.

The Leinster fans were furious, and although Cipriani rifled a touchline conversion attempt wide, Wasps were back in contention at 15-11 adrift.

Leinster, despite holding a four-point lead, had to regroup, and they started the second period in determined fashion by regaining a much-needed territorial foothold.

Despite losing an injured O'Driscoll at the break, Leinster set about their work aggressively, and their third try quickly arrived.

Wasps scrum-half Eoin Reddan had a defensive clearance kick charged down, and quickly recycled possession enabled Fitzgerald to dart over in the corner.

Contepomi's conversion gave Leinster an 11-point advantage, but they were also just one more try away from a bonus point.

And there was still more than a quarter of the match remaining when the fourth touchdown arrived, courtesy of a Contepomi charge-down effort that he also converted.

Wasps were finished at 29-11 adrift, but Leinster had no intention of letting up - as Elsom's blockbusting close-range effort and Kearney's poacher's effort proved.