Game On: Teams Up for Glaws.

[Rossm]

Head Coach Lee Blackett has named his side to take on Gloucester Rugby in the opening round of the Gallagher Premiership on Sunday 11 September.

New signings, John Ryan and Kiran McDonald will make their first Gallagher Premiership appearance in Black and Gold on Sunday.

Ryan is joined in the front row by Robin Hislop and Tom Cruse.

The side is captained by Joe Launchbury who will be joined in the second row by Kiran McDonald and Tom Willis who topped the leader board last season with most defenders beaten.

Brad Shields will line up alongside Alfie Barbeary to complete the pack in the back-row.

Following an outstanding pre-season performance against both Doncaster Knights & Dragons Matteo Minozzi takes his place at full back.

Josh Mills and Zach Kibirige are on the wings.

Inside them Burger Odendaal and Sam Spink form the centre partnership, while Dan Robson and Charlie Atkinson link up at half-back.

Amongst the replacements, Jack Willis returns from his time in Australia with England Rugby this summer.

Wasps team to face Gloucester Rugby at Kingsholm Stadium on Sunday 11 September, kick off 3pm.

1          Robin Hislop

2          Tom Cruse

3          John Ryan

4          Joe Launchbury (C)

5          Kiran McDonald

6          Tom Willis

7          Brad Shields

8          Alfie Barbeary

9          Dan Robson

10       Charlie Atkinson

11        Josh Bassett

12       Burger Odendaal

13       Sam Spink

14        Zach Kibirige

15       Matteo Minozzi

 

Replacements

16       Dan Frost

17       Elliot Millar-Mills

18       Biyi Alo

19       Ben Morris

20       Jack Willis

21       Will Porter

22       Ryan Mills

23       Ali Crossdale

[Rossm]

Glaws.

15. Lloyd Evans*
14. Louis Rees-Zammit*
13. Chris Harris
12. Mark Atkinson
11. Ollie Thorley*
10. Adam Hastings
9. Charlie Chapman*

1. Harry Elrington
2. Jack Singleton
3. Fraser Balmain
4. Freddie Clarke*
5. Alex Craig*
6. Ruan Ackermann (c)
7. Harry Taylor*
8. Ben Morgan

16. Santiago Socino
17. Val Rapava-Ruskin
18. Jamal Ford-Robinson
19. Cameron Jordan*
20. Albert Tuisue
21. Ben Meehan
22. Billy Twelvetrees
23. Kyle Moyle

[coddy]

Unusual to have two flankers and no 2nd rows on the bench but good strong team nonetheless


COYW

[Neils]

So Tom is in the second row and Josh Mills is on the Wing. Maybe a check should have been done.

[Bloke in North Dorset]

Interesting that they got dispensation for Jack and then he’s on the bench.

[BlackAndGoldSunglasses]

Assume Brad will cover lock if needed.

I like the side - that back row is power! Pleased Charlie made it - hoping he's 100% fit.

Good balance.

[mike909]

Liking the selection - we're going to have to concentrate defensively as Glaws have firepower out wide and that's a fairly settled selection. But if our backrow can provide the quality that's promised, then we can be very competitive.

[Westy68]

That's not a bad team at all and hopefully good enough to make a serious challenge. Also bench is pretty solid.  I would have started Alo but it's a close call. Missing West and Harris is a shame

[Garuda]

Nice to see Minozzi back.

Personally would prefer Tom and Alfie to swap positions.

[Neils]

Nice to see Minozzi back.

Personally would prefer Tom and Alfie to swap positions.

Your last point- totally.

[Raggs]

I actually prefer our pack, though I think I prefer their forwards on the bench (except of course for Jack!).

Prefer our 9/10, but the rest of the backs are probably in Glaws advantage. Come down to how well the team has been coached, and how well they've gelled together.

[JonnyD]

Morris trained a fair bit at lock during our shortage there last season so he’s probably the first choice option if anyone has to come off early.
God I hope Launchbury is fit.

… and Atkinson. Potentially we’re holding back Mills on the bench in case Charlie doesn’t make it though again.

Like the sound of Josh Mills, Eddie likes a hybrid player

Also hope Cardall and TV3 are back soon.

[Steve from Cov]

Decent selection but we will miss Tom West and Gloucester look really strong. We will have to start very quickly and get in their faces.

Not too confident but I’m hoping to be proven wrong.

COYW.

[Shugs]

I think the positions of Tom and Alfie will be fluid. We look thin at lock already - not convinced Launchbury is 100%.

[hopwood]

Going to be looking around the Premiership this weekend at 10/12 partnerships.

Atkinson/Odendaal
Hastings/Atkinson

Burns/Goppeth
Skinner/Kata

Jackson/van Rensburg
Searle/Venter

Connon/Lucock
Allan/Anyanwu

Sheedy/Bedlow
Francis/Redpath

du Preez/Tuilagi
Grayson/Dingwall

Be interesting to see how they all fare.
Some new combinations floating about.