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Rugby Union

Wasps knocked out of Heineken Cup after defeat at Munster

19/01/2008

Wasps' defence of their European crown came to an early end as they were dumped out of this year's Heineken Cup by Munster.

Ireland international Ronan O'Gara kicked four penalties and Denis Leamy scored the only try of the game as Munster won 19-3. With Clermont Auvergne claiming a bonus-point in their win over the Scarlets, Wasps were relegated to third place in the pool.

Rain lashed down at Munster's Thomond Park and neither side were able to get a string of passes together. This meant that kicking would play a vital role and when young fly-half Dan Cipriani kicked an early 45m penalty, it looked as Wasps had a good chance to win.

But that penalty turned out to be the only points the English side would score in the match as Munster comfortably ran away as winners.

O'Gara brought his side back on level terms when he kicked his first penalty. He then gave his side the lead with another penalty when Simon Shaw was penalised for not retreating 10m; the England forward being sin-binned for the offence.

The Munster forwards were dominating the game and Wasps lack of possession saw frustration get the better of them. Lawrence Dallaglio in particular got into a few scuffles.

Wasps conceded another penalty before the break and O'Gara converted the chance to give Munster a six point lead.

The English team suffered a double blow in the second-half which all but ended their chances of victory. First Shaw went off with a worrying looking leg injury and then Dallaglio was unsurprisingly sin-binned.

O'Gara kicked another penalty before Munster put together 21 phases and Leamy lunged over the try-line at the end of it to secure the points. O'Gara added the two points to send his side through to the quarter-finals as Wasps tumbled out.