Teams Up for Aints - Charlie Starts, Jacob Benched, Lima Dropped.

[Rossm]

 

Lee Blackett has named his Wasps side to host Northampton Saints at Ricoh Arena in Gallagher Premiership Round Eight on Saturday. 

There are seven changes to the starting line-up from the Round Seven fixture against Harlequins.

Kieran Brookes comes in at tighthead prop, to make his 150th Premiership appearance and 50th Wasps appearance.

Ben Harris joins Brookes in the front row, as he starts at loosehead prop, to make his 50th Premiership Appearance for Wasps.

 

With Thomas Young out injured, Brad Shields is named as captain for the third time in his Wasps career and Gabriel Oghre replaces Young at openside flanker.

Will Rowlands has joined Wales’ preparations for the Six Nations and is replaced by Tim Cardall, who is fresh from signing a contract extension with the club this week.

There are also three changes in the backline, as Charlie Atkinson starts at fly-half, Rob Miller comes in at full-back and Sam Wolstenholme is at nine.

Amongst the replacements Theo Vukasinovic is in line for his first appearance of the season and Ben Vellacott returns to the matchday 23.

Paolo Odogwu, Dan Robson, Jack Willis and Tom West remain away with England for their Six Nations campaign.

 

Wasps team to face Northampton Saints at Ricoh Arena on Saturday in Gallagher Premiership Round Eight (kick-off 1:00 pm)

Wasps (First-team appearances) 

15 Rob Miller (115)

14 Zach Kibirige (33)

13 Malakai Fekitoa (24)

12 Jimmy Gopperth (115)

11 Matteo Minozzi (23)

10 Charlie Atkinson (7)

9 Sam Wolstenholme (15)

1 Ben Harris (68)

2 Tom Cruse (91)

3 Kieran Brookes (49)

4 Tim Cardall (25)

5 James Gaskell (129)

6 Brad Shields (37) (c)

7 Gabriel Oghre (32)

8 Tom Willis (29)

 

Replacements

16 Tommy Taylor (78)

17 Simon McIntyre (178)

18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen (30)

19 Theo Vukasinovic (7)

20 Ben Morris (36)

21 Ben Vellacott (11)

22 Jacob Umaga (36)

23 Michael Le Bourgeois (44)

 

[MarleyWasp]

To play:

15 Tommy Freeman
14 Ollie Sleightholme
13 Rory Hutchinson
12 Piers Francis
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
10 James Grayson
9 Alex Mitchell

1 Alex Waller (co-capt)
2 Sam Matavesi
3 Paul Hill
4 David Ribbans
5 Alex Moon
6 Nick Isiekwe
7 Lewis Ludlam (co-capt)
8 Shaun Adendorff

Replacements:
16 Mike Haywood
17 Francois van Wyk
18 Owen Franks
19 Alex Coles
20 Tom Wood
21 Tom James
22 Fraser Dingwall
23 Ahsee Tuala

[Rossm]

Some big calls by Lee:

    Lima and Will Porter not in the squad
    Jacob moves to the bench
    Sam Wolstenhome, Charlie Atkinson and Rob Miller all start
    Thomas Young misses out (head injury), Gabriel Oghre starts at openside flanker
    Tim Cardall starts in place of Will Rowlands (Wales)
    Simon McIntyre fit enough to be on the bench, Ben Harris starts
    Theo Vukasinovic named among replacements
    Kieran Brookes starts against his former club, Jeff Toomaga-Allen moved to bench.

[Neils]

Interesting team.

[hookender]

About the best we can do ,considering last weeks performance.

No one had mentioned Theo in discussions , so had assumed not around anymore

[HDAWG]

I was thinking Rowlands unavailable due to Wales (like Biggar), but could be wrong.

Interesting calls. I would've like Sirker in there, but he should be given an opportunity when the team is a bit more confident perhaps.

Atkinson starting is mad, hope he has s good game.

I was confident, but after last week I'm very nervous. Here's hoping we've learned from last week.

[Neils]

That selection at 9 and 10 should  add  stability with Vellacott ready.
Nice to see Theo with a chance - wonder if he has bulked up. Kind of expected to see Vailanu.

[Bloke in North Dorset]

When I first looked at it I thought it had the look and feel of a makeshift team but looking a bit closer on paper there's not a great deal wrong with it, knowing who's missing makes it look worse.

This is going to be down to Brad as a captain getting them up to play as a team, some of them haven't had a great deal of game time recently and they really aren't settled units.

KISS to start with, no expansive plays until they get their confidence would be my advice. Not that anyone would ask

[HDAWG]

When I first looked at it I thought it had the look and feel of a makeshift team but looking a bit closer on paper there's not a great deal wrong with it, knowing who's missing makes it look worse.

This is going to be down to Brad as a captain getting them up to play as a team, some of them haven't had a great deal of game time recently and they really aren't settled units.

KISS to start with, no expansive plays until they get their confidence would be my advice. Not that anyone would ask

KISS = keep it simple stupid?

[baldpaul101]

This team is good enough to win I think, provided they go in with the correct mid set. Last weeks game was lost before they got on the pitch IMO.

[WonkyWasp]

baldpaul - completely agree. 

[COYW15]

A few players will have a point to prove to Lee that they deserve more game time, hopefully they're able to capitalise on the opportunity.

[Rossm]

Bobby Bridge has a XV composed of unavailable (for any reason) Wasps players:

1. Tom West
2. Alfie Barbeary
3. Biyi Alo
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Will Rowlands
6. Jack Willis
7. Thomas Young
8. Sione Vailanu
9. Dan Robson
10. Lima Sopoaga
11. Josh Bassett
12. Ryan Mills
13. Juan de Jongh
14. Paolo Odogwu
15. Marcus Watson

Just shows who we are missing for one reason or another.

[Rossm]

Goodness me, we're the jolly.

Wasps 4/9
Northampton 15/8
Tie 20/1
Wasps -5pts Evens

Greenwood's odds from DW.

[Bloke in North Dorset]

When I first looked at it I thought it had the look and feel of a makeshift team but looking a bit closer on paper there's not a great deal wrong with it, knowing who's missing makes it look worse.

This is going to be down to Brad as a captain getting them up to play as a team, some of them haven't had a great deal of game time recently and they really aren't settled units.

KISS to start with, no expansive plays until they get their confidence would be my advice. Not that anyone would ask

KISS = keep it simple stupid?

Yep. Nothing elaborate until they have confidence.

I say that because I think we're poor starters, sometimes letting the oppo have the ball for a long period so they get confidence.

I agree with others, I don't thinks its a bad team and as said above, a few players with a point to make.