Cipriani and Lewsey combine as classy Wasps ko Castres

DANNY CIPRIANI and Josh Lewsey produced a neat one-two combination punch to floor Castres as Wasps opened their Heineken Cup campaign with an emphatic home victory yesterday.

The two England internationals buried their differences in the best way possible after coming to blows during a feisty training session on Tuesday.

Cipriani sent Lewsey over for Wasps’ third try of the afternoon and the pair then celebrated with a spot of good-humoured shadow boxing.

Wasps came into the game on the back of five defeats from six matches but determined to produce a performance of high tempo and high intensity. And they lived up to it, racing into a 17-0 lead inside 22 minutes with tries from Paul Sackey and Tom Voyce before Danny Cipriani sent Josh Lewsey over for the third.

Wasps could not work a fourth try to earn a bonus point – but director of rugby Ian McGeechan was relieved to see his side back in familiar shape.

“I thought we started well and we were back to a lot of the things we do well,” said McGeechan. “Castres were working hard. They are a big pack and we had to get things right today and we did. I thought it was a good defensive performance and offensively I thought we were very slick today.

“The experienced players had to take a lead and show up for real. I thought all of them did today. They delivered big time.

“It was obvious it meant a lot to everyone. Honesty is what this club is about and I thought the honesty came out. A lot of hard work went in and we got the benefits.”

Cipriani, making his second start after recovering from a fractured dislocation of the ankle, kicked 10 points and completed the full 80 minutes.

Lewsey, who has been struggling for form this season, was moved to outside centre in place of the injured Dominic Waldouck.

McGeechan said: “I thought Josh was outstanding. His carrying, his decision-making gave the forwards something to work off and it put us on the front foot.”

WASPS: J Staunton, P Sackey, J Lewsey, R Flutey, T Voyce, D Cipriani, E Reddan; T Payne, R Ibanez, P Vickery, S Shaw, T Palmer, J Haskell, T Rees, J Worsley.

Replacements: M Robinson for Reddan (59), R Webber for Ibanez (59), P Barnard for Vickery (67), R Birkett for Shaw (63), D Leo for Haskell (68), S Betsen for Rees (74).

CASTRES: T Bouquie, L Mazars, P Christophers, T Sanchou, C Carballo, M McIntyre, S Tilous-Borde; G Lensing, R Terrain, L Ducalcon, C Gaston, L Nallet, Malonga, Nell, F Faure.

Replacements: P Bonnefond for Sanchou (46), K Senio for Tillous-Borde (59), Y Forestier for Lensing (60), A Giorgadze for Ducalcon (76), M Capo for Gaston (54), L Tomiki for Faure (63).

Referee: Carlo Damasco (Italy).