Wasps set up Leinster showdown

Fly-half Dave Walder produced another man-of-the-match performance as Wasps strengthened their chances of reaching the Heineken Cup quarter-finals with victory over Edinburgh.

Walder scored all of Wasps' points with a try and faultless kicking display to set up a pivotal showdown with Pool Two leaders Leinster at Twickenham on January 17.

Edinburgh had snatched a narrow 8-7 half-time lead with a slick try from Hugo Southwell and penalty from Phil Godman but Wasps sealed their third Heineken Cup victory of the campaign on the back of Walder’s dead-eye boot.

Walder, who took the star man honours in Wasps’ recent Guinness Premiership win over Newcastle, started at fly-half after Danny Cipriani spent the week fighting off a stomach bug and took just 12 minutes to stamp his mark on the game with the opening try.

Edinburgh centre Nick De Luca slipped at the crucial moment as he attempted to clear and after Wasps had built the pressure, Walder straightened between two forwards and fended off scrum-half Mike Blair to score.

In the dour victory over Edinburgh last weekend Wasps kicked every time they had possession in their own half.

Today their gameplan was more ambitious and Van Gisbergen was in a lively mood, running the ball dangerously from full-back and linking well with Josh Lewsey.

Wasps earned a kickable penalty but turned down a chance to go for the posts when Eoin Reddan opted for the quick tap but he ran down a blind alley and Edinburgh closed ranks to snuff out the chance.

A jinking run from Edinburgh fly-half Phil Godman earned Edinburgh their first attacking platform and although Wasps snatched the turnover and Van Gisbergen cleared, Edinburgh’s tails were up.

From a lineout on halfway, Godman spun a perfectly weighted pass which allowed Ben Cairns to hit the gap outside Waldouck and then send Southwell over for the try.

The visitors almost caught Wasps cold when Blair fired a long-range penalty towards the corner and sparked a foot-race to the ball which the retreating Lewsey won just ahead of Webster.

The Scotland winger was denied again when Godman’s chip through the Wasps’ defensive ranks dribbled dead.

Wasps made their first change when Van Gisbergen was floored as he attempted a tackle on De Luca and Lachlan Mitchell was sent on at full-back.

Lewsey spotted the gap and cut past Edinburgh hooker Andrew Kelly before aiming a kick for Sackey to chase into the corner. The ball bounced dead and Sackey careered straight into the television camera.

Edinburgh took the lead just before the interval with a penalty from Godman but Walder struck back with two successful shots at goal early in the second half as Wasps began to pull clear.

Waldouck was replaced at the interval by Cipriani, who had not looked in prime health as he patrolled the touchline during the opening half but lined up at inside centre.

Walder added a third after referee George Clancy had played an extensive advantage to Wasps, which prompted furious Edinburgh coach Andy Robinson to march out of the stands and berate the fourth official.

Phil Vickery, Simon Shaw and James Haskell all tried to set Wasps in motion with powerful runs but the game degenerated into the dire kick-tennis that marred last weekend’s Murrayfield clash.

Replacement David Blair reduced the arrears for Edinburgh but Walder applied the finishing touch with his fourth penalty of the afternoon.