Llanelli 17 Wasps 33The holders not only secured their first away win of the season but also came away with a bonus point that may prove invaluable in what promises to be the tightest of groups, although their achievement and level of performance were overshadowed by speculation over the future of the head coach, Shaun Edwards.
He has been linked with the job of Wales defence coach and a renewal of his partnership with the club's former director of rugby, Warren Gatland, who takes charge of the men in red next month.
Wasps have threatened to take legal action if an approach is made but a compromise is being worked on. Edwards would consider the post on a part-time basis only, allowing him to continue with Wasps, with whom he is contracted for two more years.
His potential value to Wales soared on a night when the Scarlets suffered their heaviest home pool defeat in the competition. They were unable to shake off a blitz defence and coughed up possession regularly, negating the dominance they had established in the lineout.
In contrast Wasps had a creative hub at 10, 12 and 13. Danny Cipriani, Riki Flutey and Fraser Waters scored four of their five tries, with Waters setting up George Skivington for the fifth. Their distribution, angles of running and presence of mind confounded the belief that English rugby is blinkered.
Flutey, a summer recruit from London Irish, was particularly impressive, and the 27-year-old Maori qualifies to play for England on the grounds of residency next summer. "If that chance came, I would have to think hard about it," he said.
With the 20-year-old Cipriani establishing himself at outhalf, Flutey is a genuine inside centre while Waters is playing the best rugby of his career.
The Scarlets, semi-finalists last season, already look doomed, having failed to pick up a point in two matches. They did not lack fire at the end of a week that saw Stradey Park host the funeral of Ray Gravell, but after a fiery opening that followed Ian McGeechan laying a wreath in tribute to Gravell, they succumbed to the Wasps midfield.
Wasps had gone into the match on the back of their best run of the season, three games without defeat, but that did not stop Edwards laying into his players in midweek for starting too slowly. It is that sort of motivation Wales are looking for.
LLANELLI SCARLETS:Stoddart; M Jones, King, Evans, Watkins; S Jones, Peel; I Thomas, Rees, Manu; Cooper, MacLeod; Easterby (capt), G Thomas, Popham. Replacements:Hayter for Rees (14 mins), N Thomas and Eustace for Popham and Cooper (72 mins), Davies and Priestland for Peel and S Jones (78 mins), Daniel for Watkins (80 mins).
WASPS:Van Gisbergen; Sackey, Waters, Flutey, Voyce; Cipriani, Reddan; Payne, Ibanez, Adams; Shaw, Skivington; Hart, Rees, Dallaglio (capt). Replacements:Ward for Ibanez (47 mins), Haskell for Dallaglio (58 mins), Birkett for Shaw (60 mins), Lewsey and Amor for Cipriani and Reddan (72 mins), Walder for Flutey (74 mins).
Referee: A Rolland(Ire).
