Teams Up for Sharks - Billy's On The Bench

[Rossm]

15 Rob Miller (104)

14 Zach Kibirige (1)

13 Juan de Jongh (49)

12 Michael Le Bourgeois (16)

11 Paolo Odogwu (1)

10 Jacob Umaga (9)

9 Sam Wolstenholme (2)

1 Ben Harris (45)

2 Tommy Taylor (49)

3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen (1)

4 Thibaud Flament (2)

5 Charlie Matthews (15)

6 Ashley Johnson (c) (188)

7 Jack Willis (37)

8 Nizaam Carr (38)

Replacements

16 Gabriel Oghre (

17 Tom West (13)

18 Kieran Brookes (19)

19 Theo Vukasinovic (0)

20 Sione Vailanu (2)

21 Henry Clement (2)

22 Billy Searle (13)

23 Ross Neal (12)

Centre Juan de Jongh and hooker Tommy Taylor are named in the starting line-up against Sale Sharks to make their 50th Wasps appearances in Round 3 of the Premiership Rugby Cup this Saturday at the AJ Bell Stadium (kick-off 3pm).

Taylor returns to the front row while De Jongh is set for his first appearance of the season, as Wasps go in search of back-to-back wins following last weekend’s 36-32 triumph at Northampton Saints.

All Black Jeff Toomaga-Allen is handed a first start for the Club in the front-row next to Taylor and loosehead Ben Harris while Academy forward Thibaud Flament is given the nod in the second-row next to Charlie Matthews.

Ashley Johnson will captain the side from the back-row for his 189th Wasps appearance, alongside Nizaam Carr and Jack Willis – the latter who makes his first start since March.

Springbok De Jongh partners Michael Le Bourgeois in the centres while Sam Wolstenholme and Jacob Umaga start again in the half-back combination.

Full-back Rob Miller is joined by summer signings Zach Kibirige and Paolo Odogwu on the wings – with the latter taking on his former employers, as Wasps look to add to their tally of ten tries in two matches.

Summer signing Theo Vukasinovic is in line for his Wasps debut from the bench while Billy Searle returns to the squad since his freak injury against Bristol Bears back in February.

Wasps Forwards Coach Andy Titterrell said: “We’ll take a lot of confidence out of Saturday’s win at Saints. Certain areas went really well for us and were a lot better than the week before.

“We have to box clever at Sale but ultimately you have to be prepared to meet fire with fire and when we’ve been up there before we’ve confronted them and we’ve not gone into our shells.

“My message to the forwards will be let’s have more of what we did in the second-half v Saints and get that for an 80-minute showing. At the end of the day, if we get our detail right, if we get our knowledge right, and if we bring the emotional side of the game, then we could have a good afternoon up there.”

[HDAWG]

I was expecting more changes. I'm glad JDJ is there and Willis starting. Also Theo and Searle on bench is good. But still no Sopoaga, Fekitoa or YY. Or even Tom Willis.

[Westy68]

I agree was hoping for more changes, it is a pretty good team for this kind of cup match, as I've said before would be impressed if we win.

We need to show intensity for 80 mins and discipline

[Jac A]

I'm happy with that team.

Good pack: big strong props, looking forward to seeing more of Tibo and that's a powerful and dynamic backrow. Pleased we've stuck with Sam and Jacob should give them some confidence. Wingers both have something to prove but they've got the opportunity and I hope they take it.

It looks like it's going to be tough, its a good Sale line up etc but I thought the same against Saints and we managed to win that.

[Rossm]

FYI:

Sale (and some others) have left Sportsnetwork and can be found here:

https://forum.viewfromthe22.com/

Similar to here, you have to register before you can post.

[Neils]

I was expecting more changes. I'm glad JDJ is there and Willis starting. Also Theo and Searle on bench is good. But still no Sopoaga, Fekitoa or YY. Or even Tom Willis.

This. Especially as the club indicated Lima and Feks were ready for the Sale game. Maybe saw Sale team and thought better of it.

[westwaleswasp]

Glad to see Searle back- I feel he has a big future ahead.