Already assured of their quarter-final place, Leinster can top Pool 1 and secure home advantage in the Heineken Champions Cup’s last-eight with a winning performance against bottom side Wasps at the Ricoh Arena.
HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 1: Sunday, January 20
WASPS (4th) v LEINSTER (1st), Ricoh Arena, 3.15pm (live BT Sport 3/Newstalk/highlights Virgin Media One)
Team News: The Leinster team to face Wasps in round 6 of the Heineken Champions Cup at the Ricoh Arena this afternoon contains four changes to the side that defeated Toulouse 29-13.
As the defending champions hunt down a home quarter-final, head coach Leo Cullen keeps faith with the same back-three that scored two tries between them last weekend. Jordan Larmour continues at full-back with Adam Byrne and Dave Kearney on the wings.
Robbie Henshaw returns from a hamstring injury to take his place in the centre alongside Garry Ringrose, coming in for his first Leinster appearance since late October. Jonathan Sexton’s continued injury-enforced absence sees Ross Byrne retained at half-back alongside Jamison Gibson-Park, who replaces knee ligament injury victim Luke McGrath.
Up front, Jack McGrath swaps in for Cian Healy on the loosehead side of the scrum, Devin Toner has recovered from his ankle injury to link up with James Ryan at lock, and Rhys Ruddock will again lead the province from blindside flanker, in an unchanged back row.
Sean O’Brien, who was named in Ireland’s Six Nations squad on Wednesday, has ended his spell out with a broken arm. He joins a strong bench for the game in Coventry, aiming for his first appearance for the province since October, while 20-year-old Academy scrum half Hugh O’Sullivan is in line for his European debut.
Meanwhile, versatile back Elliot Daly is restored to the starting line-up for Wasps’ final Champions Cup outing of the season. He returns after a compulsory week off due to his involvement in England’s autumn internationals.
Coming in at inside centre, Gaby Lovobalavu is handed his first Wasps start since November in place of Juan de Jongh (shoulder). Recent Wales call-up Thomas Young is also out with a shoulder knock and is replaced by Nizaam Carr, with Jake Cooper-Woolley swapping with Will Stuart at tighthead in the starting XV.
Back rower Ben Morris is back in the squad amongst the replacements, as is winger Marcus Watson, who could make his first appearance in the black and gold since November after suffering an ankle injury. Fellow replacement Ashley Johnson also returns from an abdominal injury.
WASPS: Rob Miller; Josh Bassett, Michele Campagnaro, Gaby Lovobalavu, Elliot Daly; Lima Sopoaga, Dan Robson; Zurabi Zhvania, Tom Cruse, Jake Cooper-Woolley, Joe Launchbury (capt), Will Rowlands, Brad Shields, Nizaam Carr, Nathan Hughes.
Replacements: Ashley Johnson, Ben Harris, Will Stuart, Charlie Matthews, Ben Morris, Craig Hampson, Billy Searle, Marcus Watson.
LEINSTER: Jordan Larmour; Adam Byrne, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Dave Kearney; Ross Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Devin Toner, James Ryan, Rhys Ruddock (capt), Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.
Replacements: James Tracy, Cian Healy, Andrew Porter, Scott Fardy, Sean O’Brien, Hugh O’Sullivan, Noel Reid, Rory O’Loughlin.
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Wasps to win: 5/1; Draw: 25/1; Leinster to win: 1/8
Pre-Match Quotes: Leo Cullen (Leinster) – “I thought the guys did well last week. It’s a very competitive group at the moment and there’s a few different dynamics. Rob (Kearney), originally we thought was going to be okay last week and felt something during the week. He got through training this week okay, so there was just a little bit uncertainty at the start of the week.
“The guys did well at the weekend so deserved to get picked again, but it’s a different challenge this week. It has been a slightly longer week this week which has been good. It’s important that we prepare as well as possible. We have a couple of guys coming back into the group that came through towards the end of last week.
“It’s a very competitive group at the moment and it’s important we fight for everything we can. Robbie (Henshaw) trained all of last week and came through. He got a lot of confidence from that and trained well this week. He has formed a strong relationship with Garry (Ringrose) over the last few seasons so he’s looking good, looking sharp.
“It’s important (to get a home quarter-final), very important for those teams that want to be successful. There is the commercial side of it where the province like having the financial reward and with that the money goes back into investment in the game, whether that is at underage level, the Academy or to the senior team.
“Then history would show that teams have a slightly better chance, based on the stats, when they are at home. Leinster have gone away before and won quarter-finals but you are better off being at home. It is a good challenge this weekend.”
Dai Young (Wasps) – “It’s certainly a tough prospect, facing what is effectively the Irish national team just before the Six Nations. They’ll all be vying to impress to earn the green jersey in the coming weeks and they’ll want to do the job for Leinster.
“We need to make sure we’re somewhere near our best or else it could be a tough day and we certainly don’t want that at home against any opposition. Leinster are a quality team as we’ve seen out there in Dublin (in the 52-3 loss in the opening round).
“We were in that game for 45 minutes but then they changed gear and we couldn’t live with that. We certainly don’t want a repeat of that. You’ve got to keep hold of the ball and you can’t switch off as they’ve got guys that can hurt you from anywhere on the field.”
Current Form – Wasps – (Gallagher Premiership): Won 21-20 v Worcester Warriors (away), Lost 42-31 v Exeter Chiefs (home), Won 41-35 v Leicester Tigers (home), Won 31-13 v Sale Sharks (away), Won 23-22 v Newcastle Falcons (away), Lost 35-21 v Gloucester (home); (Heineken Champions Cup): Lost 52-3 v Leinster (away), Drew 35-35 v Bath (home); (Premiership Rugby Cup): Lost 31-7 v Gloucester (away), Lost 15-14 v Northampton Saints (home), Lost 30-19 v Bristol Bears (home); (Gallagher Premiership): Lost 36-17 v Northampton Saints (away), Won 32-28 v Bristol Bears (home), Lost 29-6 v Saracens (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Lost 24-16 v Toulouse (home), Lost 42-27 v Toulouse (away); (Gallagher Premiership): Lost 24-14 v Bath (home), Lost 20-13 v Harlequins (away), Won 27-16 v Northampton Saints (home); (Heineken Champions Cup): Lost 18-16 v Bath (away)
Leinster – (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 33-32 v Cardiff Blues (away), Lost 23-21 v Scarlets (away), Won 52-10 v Dragons (home), Won 31-7 v Edinburgh (home), Won 20-3 v Connacht (away), Won 30-22 v Munster (home); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 52-3 v Wasps (home), Lost 28-27 v Toulouse (away); (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 31-3 v Benetton Rugby (away), Won 38-31 v Isuzu Southern Kings (away), Won 52-7 v Ospreys (home), Won 59-10 v Dragons (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 17-10 v Bath (away), Won 42-15 v Bath (home); (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 33-29 v Connacht (home), Lost 26-17 v Munster (away), Won 40-7 v Ulster (home); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 29-13 v Toulouse (home)
Top Scorers – 2018/19 Heineken Champions Cup: Wasps – Points: Lima Sopoaga 26; Tries: Josh Barrett 2; Leinster – Points: Jonathan Sexton 36; Tries: Sean Cronin 4
Previous European Meetings: 10
Friday, October 12, 2018 – Pool 1 – Leinster 52 Wasps 3, the RDS
Saturday, April 1, 2017 – Quarter-final – Leinster 32 Wasps 17, Aviva Stadium
Saturday, January 23, 2016 – Pool 5 – Wasps 51 Leinster 10, Ricoh Arena
Sunday, November 15, 2015 – Pool 5 – Leinster 6 Wasps 33, the RDS
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 –
– The last four clashes between Wasps and Leinster have seen both teams pick up a pair of wins, with all those win coming by 15-plus points
– Wasps are yet to win at home in the Champions Cup this season
– Leinster have won their last three away games against Gallagher Premiership opposition
– Heading into round 6, Leinster have scored more points (167) and tries (23) than any other side in this season’s Champions Cup
– Kiwi winger James Lowe remains the top metre-maker this season (387)
European Cup Records:
Wasps –
2017/18: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2016/17: Reached the quarter-finals
2015/16: Reached the semi-finals
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
Leinster –
2017/18: Champions
2016/17: Reached the semi-finals
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
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
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