Barbeary score swings it for Wasps As Blair laments ‘brain-farts’
WASPS cranked up the power to reach the Challenge Cup semi-finals after a pulsating last-eight encounter in Edinburgh.
Wasps trailed 20-10 early in the second half before close-range tries from props Bi Alo and Tom West put them ahead. Magnus Bradbury’s score and Emiliano Boffelli’s long-range penalty reclaimed the lead for the hosts but a late try from the excellent Alfie Barbeary proved decisive.
The game ended in controversy when Wasps flanker Brad Shields appeared to deliberately knock the ball forward out of the hands of Henry Pyrgos, but after lengthy deliberation with the TMO, referee Pierre Brousset awarded a knock-on against the Edinburgh scrum-half.
“I have to check the law book but you can’t jump off your feet and slap the ball down like that,” lamented Edinburgh head coach Mike Blair.
“I’ve got such mixed emotions. We played some brilliant rugby at times and defended with a huge amount of heart, but undid it with a couple of brain-farts and decisions which went against us.”
Despite enjoying a slice of fortune, Wasps – who won this tournament in 2003 prior to their two Heineken Cup triumphs – were deserved winners and are now within 80 minutes of another shot at European glory for the first time in 15 years.
“For a club the size of Wasps, it feels like it has been too long,” said head coach Lee Blackett. “We are delighted to be in the semis but there are still some monster teams left in this tournament – like Saracens and Toulon.
“It is going to be hard but we are in the last four so we have got a chance.”
After an early exchange of penalties between Jimmy Gopperth and Boffelli, the hosts took the lead with a stunning score. Chris Dean’s break was continued by Luke Crosbie and Adam McBurney before Boffelli’s delayed pass put Ben Vellacott over in the corner.
Wasps hit back as Gopperth sniped over after Sam Spink’s midfield bust, but Edinburgh went 17-10 up when Grant Gilchrist charged down Charlie Atkinson’s kick and from the resultant lineout maul, hooker Adam McBurney rumbled over.
Barbeary was held up over the line but as the visitors’ scrum dominance forced a series of penalties, Edinburgh were forced to bring on Pierre Schoeman for the inexperienced Harrison Courtney before half-time. Boffelli extended their lead with a penalty but Wasps’ pack, with Dan Robson directing operations, stepped up a gear and Alo plunged over – despite an apparent knockon in the build-up – with West following suit after a series of pick-and-gos.
But momentum swung again when Dean’s smart offload sent Bradbury over, Boffelli’s conversion levelling it at 27-27 before the Argentine’s booming penalty had the home fans in raptures. But Edinburgh lost flanker Connor Boyle to the sinbin and Barbeary finished off another lineout drive to clinch victory, despite the late drama.
REFEREE: Pierre Brousset (Fra) ATTENDANCE: 6,431