Jimmy Gopperth contributed 22 points as Wasps beat the Bristol Bears 47-24 in their English Premiership semi-final clash in Coventry on Saturday.
It was touted as the more intriguing of the two semi-finals because it would be contested between the second- and third-placed teams on the log, while the second semi-final between the top-ranked Exeter Chiefs and fourth-ranked Bath was predicted to be a more straight-forward affair.
But there was no intrigue about this match as Wasps took control of proceedings right from the kick-off and Bristol failing spectacularly in their attempt to wrestle back any semblance of ascendancy.
The 37-year-old Gopperth was front and centre in this win for Wasps, masterfully dictating the game at flyhalf and delivering a kicking masterclass by slotting five conversions and four penalties for a 22-point haul.
Wasps led 23-5 at the break, courtesy of two converted tries and three penalties kicks. They drove home the advantage after the break as they continued their irresistible form to take a commanding and irreversable 47-12 lead.
There was a late flurry of tries from Bristol, but it only put some respectability on the scoreboard for coach Pat Lam’s charges.
Wasps – Tries: Malakai Fekitoa, Jack Willis, Dan Robson, Zach Kibirige, Matteo Minozzi. Conversions: Jimmy Gopperth (5). Penalties: Gopperth (4).
Bristol – Tries: Luke Morahan, Harry Thacker, Harry Randall, Max Malins. Conversions: Callum Sheedy (2).
Wasps – 15 Matteo Minozzi, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Jimmy Gopperth, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Brad Shields, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Jack Willis, 5 Will Rowlands, 4 Joe Launchbury (c), 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Simon McIntyre.
Replacements: 16 Gabriel Oghre, 17 Tom West, 18 Biyi Alo, 19 James Gaskell, 20 Alfie Barbeary, 21 Tom Willis, 22 Ben Vellacott, 23 Michael Le Bourgeois.
Bristol Bears – 15 Max Malins, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Semi Radradra, 12 Siale Piutau, 11 Piers O’Conor, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Steven Luatua (c), 5 Chris Vui, 4 Joe Joyce, 3 John Afoa, 2 Harry Thacker, 1 Jake Woolmore.
Replacements: 16 George Kloska, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Ed Holmes, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Harry Randall, 22 Sam Bedlow, 23 Alapati Leiua.
Photo: @Wasps/Twitter
