So, London Wasps, ever the tortoise, once again failed to win a point in their first fixture. We know that probably means a date with destiny back at HQ come May, 2009. We can but dream. As for Irish, they said they would run the ball (as well as kick it), and they were as good as their word.

Wasps started with a spritely five-minute spell following a useful kick-off, which Irish carelessly let bounce out. That was how long it took before the Exiles had the measure of Wasps' handling game with its telegraphed inside passes. Unsurprisingly, both teams resorted to torturous up-and-unders, or kicked for territory.

The latter was Irish's main weapon. Wasps dozed five metres out as our overthrown lineout ball was snaffled by Irish's no. 8 with nary a movement from the pack in black.

Irish kept up the pressure by sumptuously running Wasps' clearance kicks back with interest, as their back three took charge. The evergreen, wily, old fox, Mike Catt had barely a finger laid on him all game.

Two missed penalties by Mark van Gisbergen added to the champions' woes as Irish potted two goals of their own to stretch to a 13-0 half-time lead. Wasps' only attack of note saw Rickey Flutey step to the Exiles' 5 metre line before throwing a Hail Mary inside pass to no one in particular. Consolidation was not the order of the first half! Irish cleared and countered. Sitting there thinking, one could read the runes from years gone by...

If Wasps were to claw back the game, an instant riposte was necessary. However, Wasps' lineout gremlins handed Exiles' blindside flanker an open door, and he jigged his way gleefully to the line with Wasps all at sea once more.

The tide began to turn when defensive lineout ball was finally secured and cleared. A rare foray to the Exiles' 22 ended in farce when Tom Rees scooted away from the blindside of a ruck, looking back to see if he'd be hauled back by a defender, or perhaps the referee.

Late on Eoin Reddan's trademark snipe escaped Irish's attentions and Wasps were in danger of winning a bonus point. Deep into stoppage time, a run of penalties offered Joe Worsley the opportunity to charge down and score, but he knocked on in the act of diving. Perhaps he was obstructed along the way, but it was deemed a moot point by the officials, and the game finally petered out after a few minutes of mayhem.

Irish deserved the win. Wasps deserved an earful. Lawrence may have been missed, but mostly he didn't start in recent seasons, anyway. Plus ça change...

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