By Cathal Dervan

LEINSTER coach Michael Cheika was at a loss to explain his side’s second half collapse in the Heineken Cup quarterfinal as they crashed out to Wasps in Wycombe on Saturday night.

The Irish side were eventually beaten 35-13 after trailing by just 13-10 at the break, with Wasps’ Limerick born scrum-half Eoin Reddan helping himself to two tries.

Cheika admitted, “We are bitterly disappointed. We lost a really good opportunity. We put ourselves in a really good position at the break and let it go. We gave everything but we didn’t play to our ability in the second half.

“The impact that we had in the first half didn’t come out in the second half. We knew they would run direct at us because they are very strong support runners and when you let them go through at the first point of contact you open the door. That caused errors.

“They came out firing with 14 men and took it to us. They deserved to get the points they scored at that time.”

Double try scorer Reddan is finally tasting Heineken Cup success. He revealed, “I was on the bench for Munster when Wasps beat them in 2004, then I went to Wasps only to see Munster win last year without me.

“It would be nice to get there this year but we’ve a lot of rugby to play first. It was like playing against your brothers. It’s a bit more special playing Leinster, with Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan watching and everything.

“But it was a big game whatever the opposition. I remember Roy Keane saying, ‘What do you mean a big game? They’re all big.’ And we’ve a few left.”

Wasps skipper and formed England captain Lawrence Dallaglio said, “Most people predicted an away win and it really irritated me and my friends in the dressingroom,” he said after the win at Adams Park.

“We have to be really pleased with that performance because of the quality of the side we were up against. We came in at halftime and said they were there for the taking.”

Meanwhile, Munster boss Declan Kidney now believes that Llanelli can succeed his side as European champions after they defeated the Reds 24-15 in the quarterfinal on Friday night.

Kidney said, “Llanelli have won seven out of seven in Europe this season. They have momentum and they are brimming with confidence. They are a skilful side, and while there are still six other good teams left in the tournament, I wouldn’t put them too far down the betting list. They have the ability to win it.

“The great thing about this Munster team is that we win and lose together. We will have to reassess now, and if we are made of stern stuff we will come back. If we are not, then we won’t.”

Munster captain on the night Ronan O’Gara said, “Llanelli brought a great intensity to the game, and they had a hunger we couldn’t match. There were also crucial scores before halftime. We tried hard, but our execution was poor at times.”