Jack Willis Back - teams up

[Neils]

.

[Neils]

Lee Blackett has named his side to travel to Harlequins in Gallagher Premiership Round 17 on Saturday.

There are six personnel changes and one positional switch from the team that beat Bath last Saturday.

Jack Willis returns to Wasps’ matchday 23 for the first time since January 2021, as he is named amongst the replacements.

Tom Willis and Jacob Umaga also return to the side, as they start at number eight and full-back respectively.

Ryan Mills starts his first Wasps game since September 2020, having provided two try-assists off the bench against Bath last week. He forms the centre partnership with Sam Spink.

Dan Robson captains the side from scrum-half, in the absence of Joe Launchbury, who is away with England. Robson and Charlie Atkinson form the half-back pairing once more. 

Joining Tom Willis in the back row are Ben Morris and Vaea Fifita, as Brad Shields misses out with a rib injury and Alfie Barbeary is in training camp with England.

Umaga is joined by Paolo Odogwu and Josh Bassett in the back three.

James Gaskell and Elliott Stooke are the locks, while Tom West, Tom Cruse and Biyi Alo are the front row trio.

On the bench, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen is in line to make his 50th Premiership appearance. Nizaam Carr also returns to the squad. They are joined by Gabriel Oghre, Bomber Hislop, Jack Willis, Will Porter, Jimmy Gopperth and Marcus Watson as the other replacements.

Wasps team to face Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday (kick-off 3:00pm)

Wasps (First-team appearances)

1 Tom West (64)

2 Tom Cruse (111)

3 Biyi Alo (30)

4 James Gaskell (148)

5 Elliott Stooke (16)

6 Vaea Fifita (13)

7 Ben Morris (50)

8 Tom Willis (52)

9 Dan Robson (146) (c)

10 Charlie Atkinson (24)

11 Josh Bassett (167)

12 Ryan Mills (

13 Sam Spink (16)

14 Paolo Odogwu (28)

15 Jacob Umaga (60)

Replacements

16 Gabriel Oghre (58)

17 Robin Hislop (15)

18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (58)

19 Nizaam Carr (68)

20 Jack Willis (66)

21 Will Porter (44)

22 Jimmy Gopperth (144)

23 Marcus Watson (64)

Unavailable (10): Alfie Barbeary, Malakai Fekitoa, Dan Frost, Francois Hougaard, Zach Kibirige, Joe Launchbury, Rodrigo Martinez, Matteo Minozzi, Brad Shields, Thomas Young.

Tickets are available for our next 

[HDAWG]

Really interesting team, but screw all that: JACK'S BACK

[Neils]

Let's all hope there is no Alex Reider moment.

[baldpaul101]

to play:

1. Joe Marler
2. Jack Walker
3. Will Collier
4. Matt Symons
5. Hugh Tizard
6. Stephan Lewies (c)
7. Luke Wallace
8. Archie White
9. Danny Care
10. Will Edwards
11. Cadan Murley
12. Andre Esterhuizen
13. Huw Jones
14. Oscar Beard
15. Tyrone Green

Impact Players
16. Sam Riley
17. Simon Kerrod
18. Wilco Louw
19. Tom Lawday
20. James Chisholm
21. Lewis Gjaltema
22. Tommy Allan
23. Louis Lynagh

[Heathen]

Yay!!!!

I like the look of that team.

WELCOME BACK JACK.

[hopwood]

Question: how often have Jack and Tom played together for the same Wasps senior side?

[Shugs]

Wow - didn’t expect that. Didn’t expect one Willis, let alone two. Outside of that I worry about Umaga defensively at 15. I’d far rather he and Atkinson just rotate at 10. Is Crossdale injured? He’s not on the list. For me he’s a shoe in at 15. Apart from full back that back line has a good balance about it. I was a bit worried about our carrying power in the back row but Willis really enhances that.

[hopwood]

Will this be the first time?

[hopwood]

Let’s remember the weather conditions tomorrow.
Jacob has got a good boot and knows how to use it.
He’s also pretty good under a high ball.

I think having 3 playmakers on the pitch is a good call.

As for long term, probably Crossdale.

[JonnyD]

That is a great looking side!

They look a little light on some departments but Edwards had a very good game against us last time when we thought we would enjoy Marcus Smith not being around

[Shugs]

Having Marler and Collier back is huge for them as it is key to all they do. Would be far more optimistic without those two back.

[WonkyWasp]

 Oh WONDERFUL ............  TWO Willises!!!!!!!!!!!       

[WonkyWasp]

 ........................   and the others look bloomin' good too!

[Jac A]

Question: how often have Jack and Tom played together for the same Wasps senior side?

They've both been in the XXIII 13 times. First was Saracens (08/10/2017) where Tom started on the bench. Most recent was against Bath in Jan last year.

Jack has started every game where they have both appeared and Tom started 8, coming off the bench the other 5 times.