Teams Up for the Fish - Ali Starts

[Rossm]

Lee Blackett has named his side to face Sale Sharks at Coventry Building Society Arena for our final Gallagher Premiership home game of the season.

There is one personnel changes to the starting line-up from our Semi-Final clash last weekend against Lyon Rugby.

Ali Crossdale returns to the starting line up at full-back, joined by. Josh Bassett and Francois Hougaard to complete the back three line-up.

For the final time at Coventry Building Society Arena, Malakai Fekitoa and Jimmy Gopperth form the centre partnership. 

The half-back partnership remains unchanged with Dan Robson at scrum half and Charlie Atkinson at 10.

Brad Shields is joined in the back row by England call ups Alfie Barbeary and Jack Willis.

Captain Joe Launchbury lines up alongside Elliott Stooke in the second row, whilst the front row remains unchanged with Tom West, Gabriel Oghre and Biyi Alo.

Robin Hislop is joined on the bench this weekend by Dan Frost, Elliot Millar-Mills, James Gaskell, Tom Willis, Will Porter, Rob Miller and Paolo Odogwu

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Wasps team to face Sale Sharks in round 25 of the Gallagher Premiership at Coventry Building Society Arena, Friday 20 May kick off 7.45pm

1          T. West (74)

2          G. Oghre (68)

3          B. Alo (40)

4          J. Launchbury (C) (171)

5          E. Stooke (26)

6          B. Shields (78)

7          J. Willis (76)

8          A. Barbeary (30)

9          D. Robson (156)

10       C. Atkinson (34)

11       J. Bassett (177)

12       J. Gopperth (154)

13       M. Fekitoa (47)

14       F. Hougaard (11)

15       A. Crossdale (14)

 

Replacements

16       D. Frost (18)

17       R. Hislop (20)

18       E. Millar-Mills (15)

19       J. Gaskell (152)

20       T. Willis (61)

21       W. Porter (54)

22       R. Miller (134)

23       P. Odogwu (37)

Unavailable: Vaea Fifita, Ben Harris and Rodrigo Martinez

[Rossm]

SALE: 15. Sam James, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Robert du Preez, 12. Manu Tuilagi 11. Arron Reed, 10. AJ MacGinty, 9. Faf de Klerk; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Akker van der Merwe, 3. Nick Schonert, 4. Jean-Luc du Preez, 5. Lood de Jager, 6. Jono Ross (C), 7. Tom Curry, 8. Daniel du Preez.

Replacements: 16. Ewan Ashman, 17. Simon McIntyre, 18. Coenie Oosthuizen, 19. Cobus Wiese, 20. Ben Curry, 21. Gus Warr, 22. Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 23. Simon Hammersley

[Beasties]

Still no sign of Mills…

[Neils]

No Jacob - hmmm.

Sale look very strong. Maybe too strong.

[Steve from Cov]

Very strong Sale selection.

[Shugs]

Interesting that Jacob is dropped. I’d have played Odogwu for Hougaard.

[Steve from Cov]

No Jacob - hmmm.

Sale look very strong. Maybe too strong.

Big surprise that Jacob hasn't been selected.

[Peej]

The full back selection merry go round continues. Crossdale has had zero rugby for a while, he'll be rusty.

I'd have brought Paolo in, trusted Jimmy to cover 10, and kept Spink in the 23. I might even have gone for a 6:2 split. In the forwards I would have started Tom and brought Alfie off the bench.

Bit of an odd selection really. Not massively confident.

 

[Steve from Cov]

Their only weak spot is van der - Merwe’s line out throwing. We really need to attack it.

[MarleyWasp]

Can't help but wonder if the selection of an actual Full Back at 15 is a sign that Lee's family are being held hostage and he's trying to alert us to the fact that he needs help...

[Heathen]

The Curried Saffas look more than a tad useful.

[FishingWasp]

What are the odds on Sale getting at least two yellows - one of which will be to Jonno Ross ? - although of late he's not seen many.

[Wombles]

If we want to see how our forwards are developing this will be the litmus test over the final 2 rounds. Sale have an exceptionally strong 23 and we will need to take our chances when they come, and likely ride out some very tough defensive sets.
I am pleased to see a fullback on the field and one on the bench, but so little game time for Ali and Miller means not placing too much expectation in their performances.
However if we want to be pushing for Heineken cup rugby and be considered I title hopefuls next season, games like these are the ones we need to win.

[Westy68]

Hell Sale look strong, this is definitely going to be a tough ask

Wonder why Mills isn't picked, not surprised Jacob not in the 23.

Really disappointed Vaea Fifita is still injured, I do like him as a player. can cover 2nd and back row.

[WonkyWasp]

Can't see a win for us.  Hope I'm wrong.  Funny mix.