The Ireland captain scored two early tries before limping off at half-time - but it was still a masterful midfield display by the Lions’ 2005 captain.

Wasps rugby director McGeechan, who leads the Lions to South Africa next summer, had little to cheer as Leinster took charge of Pool Two.

And the Londoners now have it all to do in their quest for an automatic quarter-final place.

O’Driscoll struck twice during the opening 15 minutes and Wasps never seriously recovered, despite claiming a contentious Jeremy Staunton touchdown after prop Phil Vickery received a yellow card.

O’Driscoll’s midfield partner Luke Fitzgerald posted a third try early in the second half, and there was no way back for a Wasps side that suffered their fifth defeat in all competitions this term.

Fly-half Felipe Contepomi piled on the misery by scoring Leinster’s bonus-point try, with his four conversions and a penalty giving him a 16-point haul, while Australian recruit Rocky Elsom added a fifth touchdown and wing Rob Kearney also crossed.

Danny Cipriani kicked two Wasps penalties before Staunton’s try, yet Leinster took charge after the break, critically scoring 14 unanswered points during the third quarter.

Cipriani and co are behind the eight-ball in pursuit of a third European title, with home and away wins against Edinburgh in December now their minimum requirement.

And it will be fascinating to see how they recover from their second-heaviest defeat in Heineken Cup history.