Archive time : Wasps-35 Leinster-13

There was no “HarpinOnRugby” back in 2007 when Leinster last travelled to face Wasps in a European quarterfinal, but then again much more was different back then…

• Eoin Reddan was playing for them (as was Danny Cipriani),
• Leinster fans had no idea who Isa Nacewa was,
• Leinster hadn’t won a Heineken Cup,
• Ireland still had only the one Grand Slam,
• Eddie O’Sullivan was still fancied to lead us to a successful 2007 World Cup campaign,
• Declan Kidney was still at the reigns in Munster, and the list goes on.

I did blog about the game though, albeit briefly – here’s what I had to say…

YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE : Definitely the most painful-to-watch rugby match of the season. Granted I didn’t get to see the Munster game on Friday, maybe that was worse. I know I go on about the shambles that is the European rugby calendar, but it’s this time of the season that it really shows. After a bruising Six Nations campaign, the international stars (the ones who escaped injury that is) are expected to pick themselves up and contest a Heineken Cup quarterfinal. Leinster were never even close to being in this today, literally right from the kickoff when Contepomi couldn’t even kick the ball ten yards. It was a weary performance from start to finish and clearly the London side were much better prepared, mostly because they have played as a tight team unit since last August, while I very much doubt Michael Cheika has been able to field the same XV two games in a row all season. Today really was an amazing anti-climax to a season which promised so much. Yes, I know we’re still in with more than a shout of winning the Magners League, but will anyone really care at that stage? Once again I will assert my opinion that the Six Nations should come at the end of the rugby season. Why oh why won’t anyone listen to me??? Anyway…the only good thing from an Irish standpoint was the impressive two-try performance of Eoin Reddan on the Wasps side – with Eddie O’Sullivan looking on, he must be a good bet to make the Argentina trip and challenge for a slot in the World Cup squad.