Leinster’s opening pre-season clash against London Wasps ended in defeat in Donnybrook on Friday evening as the English side scored five second half tries to seal a 41-6 victory…Schmidt Reaction…

Speaking after the game, Leinster Coach Joe Schmidt commented: “The result was never going to be the most important thing, so we had an opportunity to look at a number of guys and some of them put their hands up (for selection).

“Wasps are a pretty experienced side with a number of England internationals and we knew that it was going to be a tough test. It was good for Sean (O’Brien) and Luke (Fitzgerald) to get 40 minutes each. I thought Seanie carried strongly and led the team well, while Luke looked dangerous.

“With the World Cup coming up we know that we’ve gotta rotate the squad. He (Luke) is pretty happy playing full-back and I’m sure there will be times when he will feature there for us. We have a few injuries which are causing a bit of concern for us. We will get Stan (Wright) checked out, while Mike Ross limped off.

“Even though there were a few errors for their tries, the good thing is that we can go through the analysis and look at the areas that need to be tightened up ahead of the Leicester game next week. This year will be difficult, but that’s not an excuse. We’re Leinster and we know that we have to deliver.”

Wasps got off to a dream start after three minutes when England wing Tom Varndell evaded several tackles out wide to race clear to score. Dave Walder’s conversion attempt fell wide and the early deficit sprung the hosts, skippered by the returning Sean O’Brien, into life.

In front blistering late evening sunshine in Donnybrook Leinster rallied and eventually after 28 minutes a spell of pressure, following some excellent play by Luke Fitzgerald and Isa Nacewa, led to Ian Madigan’s first kick at goal.

The former Ireland Under-20 out-half slotted the kick home to make it 3-5. A 39th minute strike by Madigan then made it 6-5 to Leinster, before an injury time kick by Walder regained the Wasps advantage to make it 8-6 at the interval.

Summer signing Isaac Boss impressed with a series of clever runs, but with opportunities few and far between in attack, Wasps roared into the second half and blitzed a much changed Leinster side with tries from Ben Jacobs (45) and Richard Haughton who touched down on 54 as well as later on in the second half. Substitute Mark van Gisbergen touched down on the hour mark before Christian Wade rounded the try-scoring off with a 76th minute strike.

Walder added a conversion and his replacement Joe Simpson chipped in with three conversions from four. There was disappointment for the 5,640 crowd at the final whistle, but Leinster’s preparations move on ahead of next week’s trip to Welford Road and the challenge of Leicester Tigers.

LEINSTER SCORER: Ian Madigan (2 penalties)

LONDON WASPS SCORERS: Richard Haughton (2 tries), Tom Varndell, Ben Jacobs, Mark van Gisbergen, Christian Wade (1 try each), Dave Walder (1 penalty, 1 conversion), Joe Simpson (3 conversions)

LEINSTER:

15: Luke Fitzgerald (Niall Morris, half-time)
14: David Kearney (Isa Nacewa, 59)
13: Eoin O’Malley
12: Eamonn Sheridan (Fergus McFadden, 19)
11: Isa Nacewa (Michael Keating, half-time)
10: Ian Madigan
9: Paul O’Donohoe (Isaac Boss, half-time)

1: Heinke van der Merwe (Jack McGrath, 70)
2: Richardt Strauss (Jason Harris-Wright, half-time)
3: Mike Ross (Stan Wright, 58) (Mike Ross, 72)
4: Trevor Hogan (Mariano Galarza, 72)
5: Devin Toner
6: Eoin Sheriff
7: Paul Ryan (Dominic Ryan, 63)
8: Sean O’Brien CAPTAIN (Ben Marshall, 56)

LONDON WASPS:

15: Jack Wallace
14: Richard Haughton
13: Ben Jacobs
12: Dom Waldouck
11: Tom Varndell
10: Dave Walder
9: Nic Berry

1: Zak Taulafo
2: Tom Lindsay
3: Phil Vickery
4: Marty Veale
5: Richard Birkett
6: Will Matthews
7: Serge Betsen
8: John Hart

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Rob Webber
17: Tim Payne
18: Ben Broster
19: James Cannon
20: Tom Rees
21: Joe Simpson
22: Riki Flutey
23: Christian Wade
24: Simon Shaw
25: Sam Jones
26: Elliot Daly
27: Mark Van Gisbergen.

REFEREE: John Lacey (IRFU), SUB REFEREE: Leo Colgan (IRFU), ASSISTANT REFEREE: Richard Kerr (IRFU), 4th OFFICIAL: Ed Kenny (ARLB), 5th OFFICIAL: Dan Wallace (ARLB)