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A brilliant Wasps’ display, capped by 19 points from Jimmy Gopperth, saw them clinch a European Cup quarter final spot.

The black-and-golds began their pool five campaign as rank outsiders, but their status as group winners was confirmed when Toulon failed to bank a bonus point while beating Bath.

Incredibly, Wasps recorded seven tries in the process of beating three-times champions Leinster 51-10, on a day when their forwards were dominant.

They now face either Clermont or Ospreys depending on tomorrow's pool two results.

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Leinster shattered any illusions that they might be treating the match as a dead rubber with a brilliant second minute try.

They caught Wasps napping with a quickly tapped penalty, then after Luke Fitzgerald recovered a chip through, quick hands sent South African Zane Kirchner into the corner.

Both sides lost key players in the opening quarter, as Joe Simpson and Johnny Sexton were forced off with ankle and head injuries respectively.

Wasps’ forwards looked to have an edge in the tight, and after they drove a series of close-range lineouts they patiently retained the ball until Gopperth was able to go through a gap to score.

The former Leinster fly half also converted, and better followed when Joe Launchbury sprinted over for a second converted try.The England lock gathered an inside pass from George Smith via a double-ricochet which required the TMO’s careful attention before French ref Mathieu Raynal was able to confirm the score.

Smith turned from hero to villain a few minutes later, and his mistake proved costly for the hosts. Leinster intercepted his offload, and although Wasps’ cover defence got to Fitzgerald deep in their own 22, Lorenzo Cittadini was sinbinned for slowing down the resulting ruck. The visitors opted for a scrum, and former Wasps’ European Cup winner Eoin Reddan squeezed over in the corner in support of Dave Kearney’s initial burst.

Another long period of Wasps pressure ended with Gopperth hooking a drop goal attempt wide, but the Kiwi No.10 soon made amends with a well-struck penalty that gave the hosts a 15-10 interval advantage.

His second penalty further extended their advantage after the break, then a superb converted Elliot Daly try took them out of sight. The England hopeful swerved his way over from 40 metres when a set move from a scrum opened up the visitors’ defence.

Wasps soon clinched the all-important bonus point, and it was no surprise that it was forward power that delivered it. Leinster were on a final warning from the referee, and when they collapsed the hosts’ driving lineout M.Raynal had no hesitation in awarding the penalty try.

The fifth score, finished by Frank Halai, was the best of the day. After a long period of continuity, eventually Leinster ran out of numbers and the Kiwi powered over in the corner.

Wasps were then forced to soak up a long period of pressure, but as Leinster sought to force play wide, Charles Piutau recovered a fumble and just had the pace to go 55 metres to the posts.

Incredibly, there was still time for the hosts to record a seventh try, when replacement Ashley Johnson barged his way over from close range.

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