Eddie Jones booed at the Ricoh as Wasps and Bath battle out draw

An extraordinary match which saw England coach Eddie Jones roundly booed by elements of the Ricoh Arena crowd ended with both teams scoring five converted tries in a 35-35 draw which, while thrilling for the neutral, did little for either team’s Champions Cup qualification hopes.

This was a game which hardly needed any extra spice to make things interesting. After Leinster’s drubbing of Wasps in Dublin last weekend, and Bath’s bizarre defeat by Toulouse thanks to Freddie Burns’ premature celebration, the intervening week had only added further layers of intrigue.

Christian Wade’s apparent decision to swap life in Coventry for the United States and a shot at the NFL was met by silence by Wasps, a policy Bath owner Bruce Craig eschewed when deciding to demand a rematch with Toulouse over the officiating in Bath’s defeat.

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But the game was breathless from the word go, with both defences leakier than a Welsh soup. Joe Cokanasiga, celebrating his England call-up, scored just three minutes into his Champions Cup debut and it was a beauty. Bath worked the ball out wide, Cokanasiga cut in from the left flank, exchanged passes with Will Chudley and then muscled his way over the line despite a last-ditch tackle from Josh Bassett. Cokanasiga slammed the ball down as if he was LeBron James.

Wasps looked as if they were still suffering a hangover from Dublin although Thomas Young, without whom Wasps would probably have been 50 points down at half-time against Leinster, was doing his best to stem the Bath tide.

And Wasps drew level after 18 minutes against the run of play. Burns’ attempted clearance was charged down by Tom Cruse - on for the injured Tommy Taylor - and Darren Atkins fumbled the loose ball in his own 22m. From the resulting scrum Joe Simpson darted down the blindside, drawing Cokanasiga off his wing and giving Bassett the chance to score in the corner.

Cokanasiga’s defensive positioning would have provided food for thought for the watching Jones, who for some reason found himself loudly booed by the Ricoh Arena crowd when his face appeared on the big screen. Perhaps the Australian is held responsible for Wade’s decision to cross the pond. Either that or there are still some bitter Danny Cipriani fans in Coventry.

Bath were soon ahead again, Max Wright getting his just rewards after a neat line break on the edge of Wasps’ 22, exchanging passes with Jack Walker before streaking home from 10m out.

And Wasps began to get increasingly loose as they chased the game. It wasn’t long before Bath had their third try, Willie Le Roux’s pass to Young on the left wing picked off by Semesa Rokoduguni who sprinted home from 60m.

Wasps were at sixes and sevens, Shields in particular not doing much to suggest he should be England’s No 6. A knock-on 5m out from the Bath try line one particularly egregious error.

Zach Mercer, on the other hand, was showing what he could do ball in hand, one pick-and-go from the base of a 5m scrum showing his confidence in front of Jones.

Dai Young was looking pretty fed up by the time the half-time whistle was blown, as well he might. He must have given his men a proper half-time rollocking because it took Wasps just 10 minutes after the restart to score three tries and reclaim the lead.

Joe Simpson, Zurabi Zhavnia and Ashley Johnson were the scorers but they were all fine team efforts, the products of the fast multi-phase rugby Wasps have become known for in recent seasons. Shields was to the fore in most of those moves.

Back came Bath again, though, Charlie Ewels this time taking a flat pass from Walker to draw things level at 28-28. And the visitors then went ahead again with their fifth try of the game, Francois Louw diving over from close range.

A sensational finish saw Thomas Young go over for a try which his all-action performance deserved, and again it came from a wonderfully swift attack, Rob Miller crossing with Elliot Daly who burst through the midfield before finding Young about 15m out.

Alex Davies, a 32 year-old signed from Yorkshire Carnegie in the off-season and on for his competitive debut, had a late chance to win the game with a penalty from out on the right touchline. He missed.

5:23PM

No change to pool 1

Three points from today's antics will see both Bath and Wasps remain in third and fourth spot in pool one of the Heinekin Champions Cup.

Bath will remain one spot behind Toulouse despite tying at 4 points apiece. With a a positive 2 in their 'points for' column, Toulouse will remain in their second spot, but will drop below Bath to third if they lose by four points or more to reigning champions Leinster tomorrow.

Full time: Wasps 35 - 35 Bath

5:17PM

Man of the match.

Wasps' openside flanker Thomas Young is awarded the Man Of The Match award. One try, 15 tackles made, 0 missed, two turnovers won, 34 meters run and six defenders beaten for the Welshman.

Wasps 35 - 35 Bath

5:14PM

Ten-try thriller

A ten-try thriller at the Ricoh Stadium today sees both sides take three points from their afternoon efforts.

Wasps 35 - 35 Bath

5:12PM

FULL TIME!

The clash at the Ricoh finishes in a draw as Garces blows his whistle to bring the curtain down on today's Coventry thriller.

Final score: Wasps 35 - 35 Bath

5:10PM

78min - Penalty

Referee Jerome Garces penalises Wasps wing Josh Bassett at the breakdown.

Bath's debutante fly-half Alex Davies misses the kick, leaving the two sides at 35 points apiece.

Wasps 35 - 35 Bath

5:04PM

74min - Substitution

Bath bring on reserve scrum-half Max Green for Will Chudley.

Wasps 35 - 35 Bath

5:01PM

71min - Subsitutions

Wasps replace James Gaskell and Joe Simpson for Kearnan Myall and Craig Hampson.

Freddie Burns limps off for Bath, with Alex Davies coming on in his place.

Wasps 35 - 35 Bath

4:59PM

70min - TRY WASPS

Wasps make up for their error witha stunning score started by new man Rob Miller.

Elliot Daly and Joe SImpson combine to send Thomas Young over for their fifth try of the day.

Sopoaga hits a sucessfull conversions to bring the two sides level for the third time this afternoon.

Wasps 35 - 35 Bath

4:57PM

69min - Subsitution

Wasps bring on Rob Miller for inside centre Michael le Bourgeois

Wasps 28 - 35 Bath

4:56PM

69min - Bath let off once again

Wasps concede the turnover once again within scoring distance of Bath's line. A Michael le Bourgeois knock-on sees Bath handed the scrum 10 meters from their own line.

Wasps 28 - 35 Bath

4:50PM

63mins - TRY BATH

Bath retake their lead through a Francois Louw try. The South African crashed over from short range for the visitors' fifth score of the day.

Freddie Burns' conversion is good!

Wasps 28 - 35 Bath

4:46PM

59mins - Substitutions

It's Dai Young's turn to dip into the bench, with Will Stuart replacing Kieran Brookes at tighthead while Ben Harriss replaces Zhvania at loosehead.

Bath bring on Ross Batty for Henry Walker at hooker. Sam Underhill replaces Tom Ellis at blindside.

Wasps 28 - 28 Bath

4:44PM

57mins - Subsitutions

Todd Blackader turns to the bench once again, with Matt Garvey swapping in for Dave Attwood in the engine room and Jacques van Rooyan replacing Nathan Catt at loosehead prop.

Wasos 28 - 28 Bath

4:40PM

54min - TRY BATH

Bath second row Charlie Ewels bursts through Wasps' midfield to canter in for Bath's bonus point score!

Freddie Burns slots the conversion to bring the game level for the second time this afternoon.

Wasps 28 - 28 Bath

4:37PM

52mins - Substitution

Bath make a swap at tighthead as they pack down for the scrum. Anthony Perenise replaces Henry Thomas.

Wasps 28 - 21 Bath

4:36PM

51mins - Scrum Wasps

Zach Mercer drives Elliot Daly back over ten meters. But Garces awards Wasps the scrum following a previous incident.

Wasps 28 - 21 Bath

4:34PM

49min - TRY WASPS

Johnson makes an immediate effect following a multiple phases of beautiful interplay from Wasps.

The former Springbok claims his side's bonus-point score and takes them into the lead for the first time of the day.

Sopoaga converts to make it a fourth seven pointer.

Wasps 28 - 21 Bath

4:31PM

48min - Substitution

Wasps hooker Tom Cruse heads to the sidelines for a second HIA of the afternoon. Ashley Johnson returns to play to fill in.

Wasps 21 - 21 Bath

4:31PM

47min - TRY Wasps

Wasps collect their third try of the day just five minutes after their second!

Loosehead Zhvania turns from creator to scorer, crashing over from short-range.

Sopoaga converts to draw the two sides level.

Wasps 21 - 21 Bath

4:25PM

42mins - TRY WASPS

Wasps' loosehead prop Zirabi Zhvania takes the short carry and offloads out of contact to send scrum-half Joe Simpson over for the home side's second try of the day.

Sopoaga slots the conversion to put his side within seven points of Bath.

Bath are also restored to 15 men as Francois Louw returns from his yellow card.

Wasps 14 - 21 Bath

4:22PM

We're back underway!

Bath fly-half takes the kick-off getting the second-half underway. Wasps' number eight Nizaam Carr collects the kick.

Wasps 7 - 21 Bath

4:11PM

Half-time!

Bath head into the changing rooms one man down but 14 points up.

They'll begin the first three minutes of the second 40 with openside flanker Francois Louw still on the sidelines.

Wasps 7 - 21 Bath

4:06PM

39mins - Wasps lose field position.

A loose ball from Rokoduguni is hacked downfield by Wasps' scrum-half Joe Simpson.

Following multiple penalties from Bath, Wasps concede the turnover at their own maul to release pressure on Bath's shoulders once again.

Wasps 7 - 21 Bath

4:00PM

Knock-on

Brad Shields knock-on less than a metre from Bath's line, seeing a promising opportunity turn into Bath possession and scrum.

Wasps 7 - 21 Bath

3:58PM

32mins - YELLOW CARD

Bath openside Francois Louw is sent for a ten-minute spell on the sidelines after lifting opposite number Thomas Young beyond the horizontal.

Wasps 7 - 21 Wasps

3:54PM

29mins - TRY BATH

Bath winger Semesa Rokoduguni intercepts Wille le Roux's pass to burn the entire Wasps defence and score from over 50 meters out.

Freddie Burns slots his third conversion of the day.

Wasps 7 - 21 Bath

3:52PM

Penalty!

Bath are penalised at the scrum, allowing Lima Sopoaga to lineup the kick.

The All Black's kick falls short.

Wasps 7 - 14 Bath

3:50PM

Substitution

Bath outside centre Jackson Willison leaves the field injured. He is replaced by number 23 Tom Homer.

Wasps 7 - 14 Bath

3:49PM

Penalty Bath

Garces penalises Wasps at the scrum and Bath take the quick-tap.

An errant pass from Bath lock Dave Attwood and subsequent knock-on from Wasps number eight Nizaam Carr sees Wasps awarded another scrum.

Wasps 7 - 14 Bath

3:46PM

Scrum Wasps

Wasps are awarded the scrum near the halfway line following a knock-on from Bath tighthead prop Henry Thomas.

Wasps 7 - 14 Bath

3:44PM

20mins -TRY BATH

Bath's inside centre sends an immediate reply to Bassett's score, making the break and combining with hooker Jack Walker to finish the move.

Burns converts the kick to make it a seven score.

Wasps 7 - 14 Bath

3:41PM

Failed HIA

Wasps starting hooker Tommy Taylor has failed his HIA and will not return to play.

Wasps 7 - 7 Bath

3:40PM

18mins -TRY WASPS

Wasps have their reply to Bath's early score with a try out wide for winger Josh Bassett.

Sopoaga converts.

Wasps 7 - 7 Bath

3:39PM

Free kick.

Referee Jerome Garces awards Wasps the free-kick at the scrum.

Wasps choose to reset.

Wasps 0 - 7 Bath

3:38PM

Substitution

Wasps lose their second hooker to a head injury assessment (HIA) with number 16 Tom Cruse taking Freddie Burns' clearance kick to the head.

Reserve utility forward Ashley Johnson (number 20) will fill in at hooker while Taylor and Cruse are assessed.

Scrum Wasps.

Wasps 0 - 7 Bath

3:31PM

Early substitution.

Wasps hooker Tommy Taylor has been replaced by Tom Cruse. Taylor will go for a head injury assessment.

Wasps 0 - 7 Bath

3:25PM

Pressure reliever.

Wasps' openside Thomas Young releases pressure for his side, winning the turnover at a Bath maul within their opposition's 22.

3:21PM

4mins - TRY Bath!

Bath wing Joe Cokanasiga registers the first score of the day. The giant winger combined well with scrum-half Will Chudley to power over Wasps' line.

Freddie Burns slots the conversion.

Wasps 0 - 7 Bath

3:17PM

We're off!

We're underway as Wasps' fly-half Lima Sopoaga kick-off.

3:16PM

Topping the charts

Wasps' hooker Tommy Taylor made a round high tackle count last weekend with 26, despite being substituted in the 58th minute.

Teammate Will Rowlands also impressed with 23 tackles with no misses against Leinster.

3:06PM

Wasps' danger men

Wasps will look to unleash All Black fly-half Lima Sopoaga and playmaking Springbok fullback Willie le Roux in front of a home crowd this afternoon. Both men will be hurting following their 52-3 defeat in Dublin last weekend.

3:00PM

15 minutes until kick-off

We're just 15 minutes away from kick-off at the Ricoh Arena. Who's going to come out victorious in Coventry today?

2:48PM

Baptism of fire

21-year-old Max Wright has earned his first two starts of the season for Bath against reigning Premiership champions Saracens (three weeks ago) and Wasps this afternoon.

Wright comes into the Blue, Black and White's starting lineup following injury to Welsh and British and Irish Lions centre Jamie Roberts, who was knocked out during the first round of Champions Cup action last weekend.

2:13PM

The teams

A quick reminder of the 46 men set  to take to the field in Coventry this afternoon.

2:10PM

Last meeting: Wasps looking to avoid repeat of 2015 disappointment.

Wasps will be looking to avoid a repeat of their last meeting in the Champions Cup with Bath in 2015, a season in which both sides claimed away victories.

2:04PM

Teams arrive at a sunny Ricoh Arena

Wasps players pose for fan photos as both teams arrive to take to the field for their first European meeting since December 2015.

2:01PM

Welcome to Wasps vs Bath - Heineken Champions Cup Round 2

Good afternoon and welcome to the Telegraph's live blog covering the second round Champions Cup clash between Premiership sides Wasps and Bath Rugby.

Both sides are looking to make amends after disappointment during their competition opening fixtures.

Wasps were dealt a hefty defeat at the hands of reigning champions Leinster at the RDS. Dai Young's men went down 52-3 in Dublin.

Bath were met with frustration to rival their Premiership counterparts, when fullback Freddie Burns, today playing at fly-half, had the ball knocked out of his hand whilst celebrating over the try line. They went down 20-22 to former European powerhouses Toulouse.

Former bath captain turned Bath general manager, Stuart Hooper, described Burns' error earlier this week. The former club captain said: "What Freddie did is unacceptable from anyone in a Bath shirt - but he has fronted up."

Both sides were dealt blows over the last two weeks at number eight. Wasps saw first-choice number eight Nathan Hughes suspended for six weeks for striking Gloucester flanker Lewis Ludlow in the two sides' Premiership clash a fortnight ago. Hughes ban would have been reduced to four weeks, but a tweet during the final stages of his disciplinary hearing has saw the panel hand the Fijian-born backrower an additional two-week ban, to run concurrently with his 6-week suspension for the Ludlow strike.

Bath lost two-time British and Irish Lions tourist, Faletau, to a broken arm. The Welshman sustained the injury during Bath's Premiership fixture with 2017 Premiership champions Exeter Chiefs. Bath boss Todd Blackadder did not confirm an  exact recovery time for the Tongan-born talisman, but stated that the layoff would be "anything from four weeks or above"

Wasps and Bath are well stocked in replacements for the international duo, with Springbok Nizaam Carr packing down at the back of the scrum for former, while the man likely to start for England during the November internationals, Zach Mercer, has switched to his preferred position since Faletau's injury.