Wasps stung on opening day

7:37pm Saturday 6th September 2008

Wasps endured a torrid start to their Guinness Premiership title defence with London Irish emerging easy 26-14 winners from the season's curtain-raiser at Twickenham.

The champions' frailties at the lineout were exposed by Chris Hala'ufia and Richard Thorpe who crossed for Irish after capitalising on errors at the set-piece.

The Experimental Law Variations have been the main talking point in the build-up to the season and one of the new rules was in evidence as Wasps paid the price for dropping their numbers.

Ian McGeechan's side are traditionally slow starters - last season they left their revival later than ever - and on Saturday they were off the pace and shapeless in attack.

Irish were left reeling after finishing seventh last term, a position which meant they missed out on qualification for the Heineken Cup, but their rout at Twickenham was an impressive declaration of intent.

They were a far more threatening side, showing a creative spark in attack matched by a tigerish work ethic in the loose which left Wasps living off scraps.

Australian full-back Peter Hewat finished the afternoon with 16 points, successfully completing every kick at goal, and his haul ultimately proved the deciding factor.

Final-quarter tries from Tom Rees and Eoin Reddan gave the score respectability but Hewat's boot meant the outcome was never in doubt.