After the frustrations of recent failures to secure a try bonus, the reigning Heineken Cup champions London Wasps went on the rampage in the first half against the Scarlets to make sure they go into Round 6 against Munster with every chance of reaching the last eight.
Whoever emerges from this season’s ‘Pool of Death’, Wasps, Munster or ASM Clermont Auvergne, will have done it the hard way and after this 10th successive home Heineken Cup triumph Lawrence Dallaglio’s men will travel to Limerick with huge confidence.
Missing 11 first-team regulars, the Scarlets were always going to be up against it and last season’s semi-finalists were simply blown away by the power of the champions in both attack and defence.
It took Wasps six minutes to get the scoreboard rolling, a quickly taken penalty by Eoin Reddan paving the way for Fraser Waters to cross for the first of six tries.
England skipper Phil Vickery was next to cross the Scarlets’ line, this time from much closer range, but the visitors came back into the game when Deacon Manu powered over in the right corner after 33 minutes.
The touchline conversion from Rhys Priestland cut the gap to five points, yet by half-time the home side had the bonus point in the bag and were 19 points clear.
Dom Waldouck bagged the third try after some lovely approach work by Riki Flutey and then Heineken Man of the Match James Haskell claimed the bonus point try on the stroke of the interval. With Danny Cipriani landing three conversions it meant Wasps had what they need by the break to head confidently to southern Ireland next weekend.
The second half was completely dominated by Wasps, who spent almost all of their time camped in the Scarlets’ 22, and further tries were added by replacement wing Rob Hoadley and England wing Paul Sackey to ensure the champions go into the final round of Pool matches with their noses in front at the top of the table.
