Wasps face Irish side Leinster in their first pool match of this season’s European Champions’ Cup.
The Coventry based side have lost their three previous meetings with PRO12 team – twice in the Champions’ Cup and once in the ‘deceased’ Amlin Challenge Cup.
The big stories include the Champions Cup return for Jonny Sexton, who’s in the Leinster’s squad, whilst Jimmy Gopperth, an ex-Leinster number ten, is suspended for Wasps after punching Leicester Tigers’ captain Matthew Tait.
Leo Cullen has recently took charge of the Irish side and says that his Leinster team must play well against an in-form Wasps squad.
Leinster’s new coach Leo Cullen thinks Leinster face a very tough task against Wasps : ‘We’re focused on Wasps at the moment, and know what to expect having played them last season. We actually played all three of the other teams in our pool last season in the competition.’
Both teams have two wins each in this fixture in the Champions Cup, along with one draw.
Leinster have won two pool matches against Wasps, who have just mustered one.
The Boys in Blue have lost two of their last fourteen pool matches in the Champions Cup.
However, the Boys in Black and Gold have won just one match in their last five fixtures against Irish clubs – despite winning eight out of ten prior to that record.
A Wasps win would get them three consecutive away pool match wins for the first time since 2007.
Wasps narrowly lost out to tournament winners Toulon last season.
My prediction: Leinster 22-27 Wasps
