Team

[Neils]

https://www.wasps.co.uk/news/wasps-team-to-face-northampton-saints-on-saturday-1/

[Neils]

Wasps (First-team appearances)

15 Charlie Atkinson (15)

14 Zach Kibirige (46)

13 Paolo Odogwu (22) 

12 Michael Le Bourgeois (56)

11 Josh Bassett (147)

10 Jacob Umaga (47)

9 Dan Robson (134)

1 Tom West (52)

2 Gabriel Oghre (43)

3 Biyi Alo (17)

4 Will Rowlands (110)

5 James Gaskell (138)

6 Brad Shields (50) (c)

7 Thomas Young (138)

8 Tom Willis (38)

 

Replacements

16 Tom Cruse (96)

17 Simon McIntyre (181)

18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen (42)

19 Tim Cardall (27)

20 Sione Vailanu (29)

21 Ben Vellacott (18)

22 Jimmy Gopperth (125)

23 Rob Miller (123)

[Rossm]

Saints XXIII.

15 Tommy Freeman
14 Ollie Sleightholme
13 Matt Proctor
12 Fraser Dingwall
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
10 Dan Biggar
9 Tom James

1 Alex Waller (co-capt)
2 Sam Matavesi
3 Paul Hill
4 Dave Ribbans
5 Api Ratuniyarawa
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Lewis Ludlam (co-capt)
8 Tom Wood

Replacements:
16 Mikey Haywood
17 Emmanuel Iyogun
18 Ehren Painter
19 Alex Moon
20 Alex Coles
21 Connor Tupai
22 Piers Francis
23 Rory Hutchinson

[Neils]

That's a behind the sofa team!

[Shugs]

Saints are always beatable though. Quite like the look of our team - pack looks solid. I'm still not loving the Atkinson at 15 call but we'll see. I take it Alo will trot off after 20 or so again.

[MarleyWasp]

Our side has a feel of planning for next season about it, apart from Vellacott on the bench.

[mike909]

Quite like the look of the team - our pack is more than capable and ought to hold their own at least and that's a class back row.
More importantly - well for me - the balance of the backline looks better with Mike le B at 12 and that provides 3 distributing players with Atkinson at 15 and lots of choices into the game. A day to kick accurately......with the "Phone Box" winger playing for Saints.

They've got a good side, improved by Lawes playing, but that suggests it would be a good idea to keep their forwards moving around on what's likely to be a warm day. Need Dan and Brad to provide leadership and make sure we really don't give them easy points......which has been a problem at times - trying to be too clever......

[coddy]

Shame Fekitoa is out injured as his centre partnership with Odogwu needs as much game time as possible for them to get to know each others mindsets.

We have lots of experience to count on in the front row and backs to hopefully see us home with a win.

[wasps]

Shame Fekitoa is out injured as his centre partnership with Odogwu needs as much game time as possible for them to get to know each others mindsets

Only if it's seen as a genuine long term plan.

If it was just a "suck it and see" approach based on the resources available, then it may no longer be a consideration