‘We learnt our lesson’ says Cipriani, as Wasps prepare for Ulster test

By Adam Ellis
Ahead of Wasps‘ trip to face Ulster in the Champions Cup under the lights of the Kingspan Stadium on Friday evening, Danny Cipriani has said the squad have learnt from their disappointing quarter-final exit last campaign.
Dai Young’s side were dumped out of the competition by Leinster in a 32-17 defeat at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium and Cipriani said he and the team had ‘moved forward’ since that defeat in April.
“I love playing in Europe and I’ve got some really fond memories of playing in some great away games during my first spell at Wasps,” the 29-year-old fly-half told BT Sport.
“Last year we had a pretty good run, it was disappointing how it finished, but I’m excited to get back out there and be part of our European journey.
“There are lessons we learnt from last year’s knockout games and as a group we’re going to grow and move forward with that.
“It’s about being confident and remembering what a good group of players we have and really believing in ourselves.”
Bracing themselves for an intimidating atmosphere at Ulster’s Kingspan home, the fly-half asserted that their past experience in the competition will see them turn around their league form – where Wasps have won two of six matches.
“Playing against Ulster will be a hostile crowd, probably more so than you find in the Premiership but we’ve got enough experience of playing in those games and scenarios.
“We have enough old heads in our squad to make sure that doesn’t affect the level of performance and it’s just about us imposing us on them.
“It’s important that we give each game the respect it deserves, go there to fight and keep putting our philosophy onto the opposition.”
Elsewhere in Pool 1 of the Champions Cup, Harlequins entertain a La Rochelle side who on average score 30 points per match in the Top 14.