Team's up

[COYW15]

https://www.wasps.co.uk/news/wasps-team-to-face-sale-sharks-on-saturday/


 Lee Blackett has named his Wasps side to host Sale Sharks at Ricoh Arena in Gallagher Premiership Round 15 on Saturday.

There are four changes to the starting line-up from the win against Newcastle Falcons last time out.

Dan Robson returns from Six Nations duty to start at scrum-half. Robson forms an experienced half-back partnership with Jimmy Gopperth, between them the duo have 250 Wasps appearances.

Alfie Barbeary comes into the starting line-up at number eight. He is joined in the back row by last week’s BT Sport man-of-the-match Brad Shields and Thomas Young, who is in line to make his 100th Premiership appearance.

Kieran Brookes returns at tighthead prop, to form the front row with Tommy Taylor and Ben Harris.

The only other change to the starting side sees Matteo Minozzi come back in at full-back.

There is also a welcome return to action for Paolo Odogwu, who is named amongst the replacements. He is joined on the bench by Sione Vailanu, Sam Wolstenholme, Jeff Toomaga-Allen and Jack Owlett.

Wasps team to face Sale Sharks at Ricoh Arena on Saturday in Gallagher Premiership Round 15 (kick-off 4:30pm)

Wasps (First-team appearances)

15 Matteo Minozzi (29)

14 Zach Kibirige (40)

13 Malakai Fekitoa (30)

12 Michael Le Bourgeois (51)

11 Josh Bassett (141)

10 Jimmy Gopperth (122)

9 Dan Robson (128)

1 Ben Harris (75)

2 Tommy Taylor (84)

3 Kieran Brookes (52)

4 Joe Launchbury (156) (c)

5 Will Rowlands (104)

6 Brad Shields (44)

7 Thomas Young (132)

8 Alfie Barbeary (13)

 

Replacements

16 Gabriel Oghre (37)

17 Jack Owlett (11)

18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen (37)

19 Theo Vukasinovic (10)

20 Sione Vailanu (26)

21 Sam Wolstenholme (18)

22 Charlie Atkinson (11)

23 Paolo Odogwu (16)

[Neils]

OK I'll say it first - where is Rob?

[RogerE]

OK I'll say it first - where is Rob?

Beat me to it 

[COYW15]

No Faf for them.

[Shugs]

If Miller isn't injured I really don't understand playing Minozzi ahead of him. I guess Owlett is covering LH. I hadn't picked up that West was a doubt.

[Covkid40]

Is Tom Willis just getting a rest now that we've got a few players back and he's played so much rugby or is he injured? guessing Umaga is still out for Covid reasons.

[Mellie]

No Faf for them.

And no AJ MacGinty, who is so much better than  Rob Du Preez.

Our half backs have the skill and experience to control the game if our forwards give them enough ball.

[matelot22]

Nice to be able to choose from a few, rather than last man standing, and some decent strength to come off the bench for the first time in a while too.

[Neils]

Is Tom Willis just getting a rest now that we've got a few players back and he's played so much rugby or is he injured? guessing Umaga is still out for Covid reasons.

Resting

[hookender]

No Faf for them.

And no AJ MacGinty, who is so much better than  Rob Du Preez.

Our half backs have the skill and experience to control the game if our forwards give them enough ball.

MacGinty is a sub along with Hammersley. See they have left out Jono Ross as well. Might have half a chance

[MarleyWasp]

If nothing else, leaving out Ross will halve their penalty count...

[matelot22]

Just looked at the Sale team, Jeez, just how many Saffas have they got in their squad now?

[JonnyD]

Without de jäger and de Preez in the second row too they do look a bit weaker, although they were still very good last week.
Mildly optimistic if we don’t go 17-0 in the first 30 mins

[Bloke in North Dorset]

Add me to the "where's Rob?" group. Someone mentioned on the other team thread he might be on parental leave.

I like Le Booj, but I'm not sure about him at 12. I suspect this is forced on Lee rather than choice, but it worked last week so can't complain too much. I would like to see both Josh and Zack coming off their wings a bit more and go hunting for work, a bit like Ashton at his best, but that would live Minozzi exposed.

[matelot22]

Just looked at the Sale team, Jeez, just how many Saffas have they got in their squad now?

Just answered my own question, 11 from a senior squad of 32!!!