Teams Up for Budgies

[Rossm]

 

Lee Blackett has named his side to host Newcastle Falcons at Coventry Building Society Arena in Gallagher Premiership Round 21 on Saturday.

Dan Robson makes his 150th appearance for Wasps, as he starts at scrum half. Robson forms the half-back partnership with Jacob Umaga.

England trio Joe Launchbury, Jack Willis and Alfie Barbeary return to start in the forward pack.

Brad Shields joins Barbeary and Willis in the back row, while Elliott Stooke lines up alongside captain Launchbury in the second row.

Having returned from injury in the Premiership Cup last weekend, Malakai Fekitoa starts at outside centre. He forms the centre partnership with Jimmy Gopperth.

Zach Kibirige starts at full back, after scoring against Sale Sharks last weekend. Joining Kibirige in the back three are wingers Paolo Odogwu and Josh Bassett.

The front row is made up of Bomber Hislop, Gabriel Oghre and Biyi Alo.

Amongst the replacements, Vaea Fifita and Tom West return from the injuries they picked up against Northampton Saints. They are joined on the bench by Dan Frost, Elliot Millar-Mills, Tom Willis, Will Porter, Sam Spink and Marcus Watson as the other replacements.

Wasps team to face Newcastle Falcons at Coventry Building Society Arena on Saturday (kick-off 3:00pm)

Wasps (First-team appearances)

1 Robin Hislop (18)

2 Gabriel Oghre (61)

3 Biyi Alo (33)

4 Joe Launchbury (164) (c)

5 Elliott Stooke (19)

6 Brad Shields (71)

7 Jack Willis (69)

8 Alfie Barbeary (24)

9 Dan Robson (149)

10 Jacob Umaga (63)

11 Josh Bassett (170)

12 Jimmy Gopperth (147)

13 Malakai Fekitoa (41)

14 Paolo Odogwu (32)

15 Zach Kibirige (59)

Replacements

16 Dan Frost (12)

17 Tom West (67)

18 Elliot Millar-Mills (9)

19 Vaea Fifita (15)

20 Tom Willis (56)

21 Will Porter (48)

22 Sam Spink (19)

23 Marcus Watson (67)

Unavailable (: Charlie Atkinson, Tom Cruse, Kieran Curran, James Gaskell, Rodrigo Martinez, Ryan Mills, Matteo Minozzi, Thomas Young.

[HDAWG]

Dan shouldn't have started, unless he's suddenly picked up form.

Kibirige at full back? Lee doing his best Eddie Jones impersonation with that selection.

Otherwise looks good, especially back row. We should do well, but still nervous.

[Shugs]

I’m confident about this one. Kibirige doesn’t spring to mind as a natural FB but he is decent defensively at wing. West and Willis off the bench is impactful. Those in the unlucky category for me are Carr and Crossdale.

[HDAWG]

Those in the unlucky category for me are Carr and Crossdale.

Crossdale for me is pretty fantastic at fullback. Albeit inconsistent. Wonder why they've experimented instead of selecting him.

[coddy]

Other than having West in for Bomber that's as good a line up as we can arguably get this season.

I like Kibirige so not concerned about him starting at 15 as he seems to be a competent defender and plenty of gas in attack although he does lack a kicking game.

[Steve from Cov]

Other than having West in for Bomber that's as good a line up as we can arguably get this season.

I like Kibirige so not concerned about him starting at 15 as he seems to be a competent defender and plenty of gas in attack although he does lack a kicking game.

A full back without a kicking game is like a prop who can't scrummage.

Unusual selection at 1 and 15.

[Bloke in North Dorset]

Josh and Paulo aren’t good kickers either.  My guess is Jimmy or Jacob dropping back for those duties when they kick long or maybe the plan is to run everything back?

[Rossm]

Budgies
15 Tom Penny (co-captain), 14 Adam Radwan, 13 George Wacokecoke, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Will Haydon-Wood, 9 Louis Schreuder; 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Trevor Davison, 4 Greg Peterson, 5 Sean Robinson, 6 Will Welch, 7 Freddie Lockwood, 8 Callum Chick (co-captain).

Replacements: 16 Jamie Blamire, 17 Conrad Cade, 18 Mark Tampin, 19 Marco Fuser, 20 Connor Collett, 21 Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti, 22 Brett Connon, 23 Matias Orlando.

[InBetweenWasp]

No mention of Crossdale in the unavailables.  Wonder what's up with him?

Perhaps there as a non-travelling reserve, but he's my first choice full-back.

[westwaleswasp]

We need to see more of Crossdale to say he should be picked over X- yeah he looked good in the earlier part of the season, but it was a brief glimpse. He must be not training as well as he looked, or struggling to get to optimum fitness levels- they might be trying to bulk him up or slim him down or whatever. I am sure we will see more of him next year.   

[will311293]

So i have a theory, that he may be back off to Sarries. It just seems too odd that he hardly plays  and doesn't post on social media despite having Instagram (official) and Twitter. Either that or something is going on at home and has had to step away for a bit.

[Rossm]

No mention of Hougaard either.

[Peej]

There are a couple of odd calls in there. Alfie over Tom is one that gets me. Though Zack at 15 is the strangest

[Neils]

There are a couple of odd calls in there. Alfie over Tom is one that gets me. Though Zack at 15 is the strangest

+1 on both

[Beasties]

So i have a theory, that he may be back off to Sarries. It just seems too odd that he hardly plays  and doesn't post on social media despite having Instagram (official) and Twitter. Either that or something is going on at home and has had to step away for a bit.

Yeah, it’s a bit worrying he’s not featuring and the idea that he’s about to sign for someone else occurred to me too. Hopefully there’s nothing in it and there’s another issue at play, hopefully not a negative issue for the lad.