Montpellier have one of the biggest packs in European club rugby but their combined might was nothing compared with the 20-year-old No 8 Alfie Barbeary, who six months after joining Wasps’ senior squad scored two tries and played a pivotal role in another two. Wasps, who were below strength, struggled to contain Montpellier who played 74 minutes of the Champions Cup tie with 14 men, but with Will Porter proving a wily deputy for Dan Robson, they had enough wit to exploit their better moments with the power and deft touches of Barbeary, who was called into the England squad last month, proving the difference. It was only a couple of years ago that the England coach, Eddie Jones, was wondering when the next wave of back rowers would roll in and now he has such reserves in the position he is overwhelmed with options. Barbeary was a doubt before the match with a calf strain but it was Montpellier who felt the strain. “I was keen to play with the international boys having a rest and we can be proud of this bonus-point victory,” he said. “It was massive for us with the Premiership starting again next week and we have to follow it up at Sale and keep the performances coming.” It was the only match of the night to be played after Toulon earlier refused to take the field at Llanelli after a Scarlets player tested positive for Covid-19 and two others had to isolate. The organisers are trying to rearrange the match, but three called off over the weekend saw Toulouse, La Rochelle and Lyon awarded bonus point victories over Exeter, Bath and Glasgow respectively while stressing no blame was attached. Wasps opted to play at the Dragons last weekend after the home side were forced to withdraw six players after testing and they returned home with five points. They faced more formidable opposition in Philippe Saint-André’s Montpellier, who included the Saracens centre Alex Lozowski, who started his career at Wasps, but gained an advantage after six minutes when the full-back Henry Immelman was sent off for leading a challenge on Will Porter with his shoulder and making contact with the head after the scrum-half had caught a kick. Wasps initially struggled with their numerical advantage. They became too loose and conceded penalties, two of which Benoît Paillaugue missed from close range. They lacked focus until Barbeary made a telling break from halfway, selling two dummies as he barrelled into the 22. Moments later he was tackled one metre short of the Montpellier line and picked up after the next tackle to step inside and force his way over. Five minutes later, Barbeary kicked out of his 22 and the ball was collected on the left by Josh Bassett. He weaved infield and made 50 metres before Tom Cruse headed into midfield and delayed his pass to James Gaskell long enough to create a hole for the second row to canter through. Montpellier were down but far from out and tries either side of the interval by Lozowski, who seized on Paolo Odogwu’s knock-on on halfway, and the replacement fly-half Yvan Reilhac after Wasps had been caught defending narrowly, put them ahead. Barbeary immediately drove out any doubts in his side, setting up Odogwu with a one-handed pass after appearing in midfield following a lineout and then securing the bonus point after twisting out of three tackles. He was sent to the sin-bin 15 minutes from time for playing the ball after a tackle but Montpellier failed to take advantage of a series of penalties and Charlie Atkinson finished the match with Wasps’ fifth try as they moved to the top of the pool.