Teams Up for Glaws

[Rossm]

15 Marcus Watson (33)

14 Zach Kibirige (4)

13 Malakai Fekitoa (2)

12 Juan de Jongh (52)

11 Josh Bassett (108)

10 Lima Sopoaga (27)

9 Dan Robson (C) (99)

1 Zurabi Zhvania (27)

2 Tommy Taylor (51)

3 Kieran Brookes (22)

4 James Gaskell (109)

5 Thibaud Flament (4)

6 Brad Shields (18)

7 Nizaam Carr (41)

8 Sione Vailanu (5)

 

Replacements

16 Gabriel Oghre (10)

17 Ben Harris (48)

18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen (4)

19 Tim Cardall (6)

20 Ashley Johnson (189)

21 Sam Wolstenholme (4)

22 Jacob Umaga (11)

23 Rob Miller (105)

Wasps captain and scrum-half Dan Robson will make his 100th Wasps appearance this Saturday as he prepares to face his former employers Gloucester Rugby in Round 2 of the Gallagher Premiership at Kingsholm (kick-off 3pm).

Meanwhile, Wasps have made four changes to the starting line-up with Tommy Taylor, Thibaud Flament, Nizaam Carr and Juan de Jongh coming in.

Taylor has recovered from illness to start at hooker next to Zurabi Zhvania and Kieran Brookes while Academy forward Flament is given his first Premiership start in the second-row next to James Gaskell.

Brad Shields and Sione Vailanu are joined in the back-row by Carr, as the unfortunate Jack Willis suffered a laceration to his knee in training this week.

Robson and Lima Sopoaga will continue their half-back combination with Springbok De Jongh starting in the centres next to Malakai Fekitoa.

A pacey back-three sees Marcus Watson, Zach Kibirige and Josh Bassett keep their starting spots and among the replacements, Tim Cardall is called up and could make his Premiership debut, with Rob Miller and Ashley Johnson also restored to the matchday 23.

Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “It was a hugely disappointing result last weekend but there was lots of good stuff within the performance.

“We had enough opportunities but you have to take them. It was just frustrating we didn’t turn pressure into points.

“Hopefully we’re a bit more ruthless and take our opportunities against Gloucester as we don’t expect to have the same amount of chances.

“We want to take the game to Gloucester. However, they’re a top-four team, they’re a very strong squad and probably have the best attacking backline in the Premiership at this moment in time.

“They play with lots of width and we’re going to have to be better than last weekend and step up in every area.”

[Rossm]

15. Jason Woodward; 14. Tom Marshall, 13. Billy Twelvetrees, 12. Mark Atkinson, 11. Ollie Thorley; 10. Danny Cipriani, 9. Joe Simpson; 1. Val Rapava Ruskin, 2. Franco Marais, 3. Jamal Ford-Robinson; 4. Ed Slater (capt), 5. Gerbrandt Grobler; 6. Lewis Ludlow, 7. Jaco Kriel, 8. Ruan Ackermann

Replacements
16. Corné Fourie, 17. Josh Hohneck, 18. Fraser Balmain, 19. Freddie Clarke, 20. Ben Morgan, 21. Jake Polledri, 22. Callum Braley, 23. Matt Banahan

Glaws going for 6/2 bench.

[welsh wasp]

Willis: When does a cut become a laceration?
Matthews: No sign of him. Is he injured?
Cruise: Not even on the bench?
Flament: A big promotion to the first team after being a sub last week

[Vespula Vulgaris]

When does a cut become a laceration?

Technically a cut is from a sharp object, a laceration is from a blunt object. I doubt they were being that specific though.

[Hymenoptera]

Mathews and Cruise were both mentioned as having taken knocks in the notes.
Surprised Flament over Cardall, thats a light weight 2nd rd.

[Shugs]

Shame about Willis. Second row will always look lightweight in the absence of Launchbury. Even so, surprised to see Flament over Vukasinovic. It's going to be tough and it looks like it will be a mud bath.

[Steve from Cov]

I saw Tom Cruise and family at Coventry rail station yesterday (or the day before).

Short break somewhere?

[BG]

I saw Tom Cruise and family at Coventry rail station yesterday (or the day before).

Short break somewhere?

Tom Cruise in Coventry.. fallen on hard times or is he opening another Church of Scientology branch here?

Maybe shooting another Mission Impossible film.. related to fixing our defence?