Teams Up for This Weekend

[Rossm]

15 Matteo Minozzi (4)

14 Marcus Watson (37)

13 Malakai Fekitoa (7)

12 Jimmy Gopperth (85)

11 Josh Bassett (111)

10 Lima Sopoaga (33)

9 Will Porter (14)

1 Ben Harris (52)

2 Tommy Taylor (56)

3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen (

4 Tim Cardall (10)

5 Charlie Matthews (20)

6 Ashley Johnson (195)

7 Thomas Young (105)

8 Nizaam Carr (46)

 

Replacements

16 Gabriel Oghre (12)

17 Tom West (15)

18 Biyi Alo (3)

19 Theo Vukasinovic (3)

20 Ben Morris (22)

21 Sam Wolstenholme (6)

22 Jacob Umaga (14)

23 Juan de Jongh (54)

Welshman Thomas Young will captain Wasps for the first time this Saturday as the Black and Golds take on Edinburgh Rugby in Round 4 of the European Challenge Cup at Ricoh Arena (kick-off 3pm).

Young will also be making his first start for the Club since March after being sidelined through injuries, as his side go in search of an all-important win if they are to make the knockout stages of this season’s competition.

Academy graduate Will Porter will make his first start of the season alongside Lima Sopoaga in a half-back combination while Jimmy Gopperth and Malakai Fekitoa help form a New Zealand 10-12-13 combination. Winger Marcus Watson and Italy full-back Matteo Minozzi are restored to the side alongside Josh Bassett in the back-three.

Zurabi Zhvania is out for six weeks with an MCL injury while fellow loosehead-prop Simon McIntyre is ruled out with concussion for the next three weeks, after which time he will see a specialist.

Deputising at loosehead is Ben Harris, who makes his first European start of the season, as does All Black Jeff Toomaga-Allen who gets the nod at tighthead.

Tommy Taylor is named at hooker while Charlie Matthews has recovered from a shoulder knock to link up with Academy graduate Tim Cardall in the second-row.

Young stands next to Ashley Johnson and Nizaam Carr in the back-row as Brad Shields misses out with a foot injury suffered last weekend, meaning the England international will be out of action for six weeks. Jack Willis meanwhile picked up an infection on his knee which needed cleaning and Sione Vailanu is ill.

Juan de Jongh and Sam Wolstenholme are fit again to be named among the replacements while Gabriel Oghre, Biyi Alo, Ben Morris and Jacob Umaga also return to the matchday 23.

Wasps Forwards Coach Andy Titterrell said: “We were disappointed last week as a couple of lapses in concentration and sticking to structure in terms of our defence let us down.

“Set-piece struggled and we weren’t able to run our strike plays so we need to put things right this weekend and being at home gives us a great opportunity to do that.

“We want to make it tough for teams, whoever comes to The Ricoh. The boys know what’s at stake and hopefully we’ll get a performance that we can all be proud of.”

[Shugs]

Zhvania and Shields out for six weeks. All of a sudden we look light at loosehead. I wouldn't have risked Willis anyway. I think that's our strongest back three at the moment. Presumably Robson is rested.

[Rossm]

Loosehead-prop Simon McIntyre is ruled out with concussion for the next three weeks, after which time he will see a specialist.


Worried about this. The word 'specialist' always frightens me. Hope Chesty is OK.

[mike909]

Ok - I'm optimistic (not been to the pub...yet) that this is the sort of selection that ought to have the ability to test many teams. I hope Jimmy is there as "on field coach" and Lima has another good game and that with a more than decent backrow - we can provide the backs with enough ball to provide the opportunity to shine

Its the sort of selection that when playing with a little confidence, ought to be exciting an effective.

Fingers firmed crossed.

I see its on EPCR, so will see what happens

[mike909]

Loosehead-prop Simon McIntyre is ruled out with concussion for the next three weeks, after which time he will see a specialist.


Worried about this. The word 'specialist' always frightens me. Hope Chesty is OK.

I do not expect him to play again. And if the problem is as suggested - a delayed problem - that's probably for the best.

[wasps]

I keep remembering that Sam Jones went through a very prolonged spell of concussions that after more than a year turned out to be something different.

Obviously things didn't end well for him, but it wasn't the suspected concussions that caused the problem

[Heathen]

I do not expect him to play again. And if the problem is as suggested - a delayed problem - that's probably for the best.

I, too, fear the worst for big Si. It's happenning all too frequently with him.

If it does happen, then it would be four forwards we have lost this season. Surely, some reinforcements - if they could be found - would be needed.

[mike909]

You hope so.

My first priority is player safety - especially concussion.

[welsh wasp]

Has Ben Harris really played 52 games?

[Peej]

Harris has been a real stalwart, and a bit of an unsung hero.

Looking forward to seeing that midfield together - hope it can produce a bit of magic. If the pack can give us some ball.

[Raggs]

Harris is another of those great squad men. Rarely gets badly done in the scrum and always active in the loose.

[Heathen]

I thought that Jack Owlett might have got run out this week.