Kurtley Beale enjoyed a dramatic debut for Wasps as a powerful second-half performance saw them defeat Connacht 32-17 in Pool 2 of the Champions Cup.
The Australian was on the scoresheet, created scores and even had 10 minutes in the sin bin against a Connacht side that paid dearly for a malfunctioning lineout and poor execution in the red zone.
Wasps now move to the top of the pool ahead of the return fixture in Galway next weekend, but will take heart from their tries and attacking intent.
Beale got his debut off to an ideal start when he opened the scoring after just seven minutes.
Wasps’ patient play was rewarded when the ball was spread wide to the 60-cap Australian international who spun out of Stacey Ili’s weak tackle to touch down.
In a dramatic 10 minutes for the 27-year-old, Beale was then sin-binned for a high tackle on Niyi Adeolokun. The Connacht winger jinked and was off balance when Beale’s arm made contact with the head area and referee Alexandre Ruiz brandished the yellow card, with Carty slotting over the resulting penalty.
Wasps had conceded six penalties by the 20th minute mark, but it was Jimmy Gopperth who claimed the next score before Connacht duly responded.
A solid scrum from Westerners saw captain John Muldoon peel off the back and offload to Kieran Marmion on the blindside who ran a clever line to run in unopposed.
Gopperth kicked the final score of the half as Wasps took a three-point lead into the break.
It was the hosts who made the ideal start on the resumption when Number 8 Nathan Hughes powered over from close range, but the response was swift from Lam's side.
Rory Parata, only on the pitch a matter of minutes, read Gopperth’s attempted looping pass to race in for the intercept try.
The Pro12 champions looked the more likely side to claim the next score, with fellow substitute Matt Healy injecting more pace into their attack.
Having initially turned down kickable penalties, Carty spurned the chance to level matters on the hour mark and a minute later Dai Young’s side had stretched the lead to 10.
Joe Launchbury, who made a couple of key turnovers in the second period, was the recipient of Gopperth’s pass to run in for their third try and the bonus point was secured when winger Josh Bassett crossed the line.
Beale was again heavily involved and the win moves Wasps three points clear of Lam’s side ahead of next weekend’s return fixture.
