Dallaglio: Wasps “have to do the business”

Dec 10 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

LAWRENCE Dallaglio admits European champions Wasps “have to do the business” next Saturday after suffering their biggest Heineken Cup defeat for almost six years.

Wasps face a quickfire return with Clermont Auvergne at Adams Park, and it is a game Dallaglio’s men cannot afford to lose in the quest to qualify from Pool Five.

The 37-27 setback saw the Londoners slip from first to third behind Munster – 29-19 conquerors of Llanelli Scarlets – and Clermont.

It was Wasps’ heaviest Heineken Cup loss since Stade Francais crushed them 31-0 in 2002, and a first tournament reversal in 10 games stretching back more than 13 months.

Skipper Dallaglio said: “This is a really tough pool, and I am disappointed we didn’t manage to pick up a bonus point.

“But now we have to do the business at home next week.”

Wasps were finished off by a contentious Mario Ledesma try, awarded despite his grounding of the ball proving inconclusive.

But Dallaglio added: “What I think about the Ledesma try is irrelevant, but it goes both ways.

“Sometimes you get those decisions and sometimes it goes to the opposition. I was more disappointed with the way we gave away first-half tries.

“Now, it sets up the match next week nicely, and it will be a real contest.”

Sale Sharks continued their waltz through the Challenge Cup pool phase with a 51-12 mauling of Bayonne at Stade Jean Dauger.

Sharks are the only side in the tournament with a perfect 15-point record after three rounds, and it will take some extraordinary results for them not to be top quarter-final seeds.

Sale were stunned in the opening minutes when a Manny Edmonds break put wing Sam Gerber over in the corner, but the Sharks quickly recovered through tries from Chris Mayor and Rory Lamont.

Mayor and Lamont added further tries, while Richard Wigglesworth, Charlie Hodgson, Oriol Ripol and Sililo Martens also crossed to leave Bayonne in disarray ahead of next Thursday night’s Edgeley Park return.