Teams Up

[Rossm]

Wasps (First-team appearances)
15 Willie Le Roux (45)
14 Josh Bassett (91)
13 Michele Campagnaro (3)
12 Juan de Jongh (36)
11 Elliot Daly (186)
10 Lima Sopoaga (14)
9 Dan Robson (92)
1 Zurabi Zhvania (13)
2 Tom Cruse (49)
3 Jake Cooper-Woolley (121)
4 Joe Launchbury (c) (132)
5 Will Rowlands (63)
6 Brad Shields (7)
7 Thomas Young (100)
8 Nizaam Carr (23)

Replacements
16 Antonio Harris (13)
17 Ben Harris (34)
18 Will Stuart (22)
19 Kearnan Myall (129)
20 Nathan Hughes (116)
21 Craig Hampson (26)
22 Billy Searle (9)
23 Gaby Lovobalavu (21)

Joe Launchbury has recovered from injury to play for the first time since September as Wasps host Northampton Saints at Ricoh Arena on Sunday (kick-off 3pm).

The England lock has been absent with knee and neck problems over the past several months but will make his long-awaited return in Round 12 of the Gallagher Premiership this weekend.

Meanwhile, hooker Tom Cruse is set for his 50th appearance for the Club as he is joined by Jake Cooper-Woolley and Georgian prop Zurabi Zhvania in the front row.

In the backs, Springbok Juan de Jongh returns to the starting line-up in place of Michael Le Bourgeois while Nathan Hughes returns to the match-day 23 after missing last weekend through a family bereavement.

Gaby Lovobalavu’s impressive showing in the Premiership Rugby Shield clash for Wasps A against Northampton Wanderers sees him recalled to the squad among the replacements.

Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “Northampton are close rivals and there’s never much between the two teams traditionally but we haven’t had the results we’d have liked in the last couple of games, certainly at the Ricoh, so it’s all about getting the result.

“We’ve got to do the basics really well, cut out errors and take opportunities. If you look at last weekend we had 60 per cent possession and territory but squandered chances. Coaches always talk about performances but now the result is a bit more important.

“Harlequins sit in fourth and they’ve won five games – the same amount as us. If you can win a couple of games, you can rocket up the table but equally you can shoot down the table if you lose a couple.

“This is the last game of this block so we want to finish strongly before the next block of league matches over the Six Nations.”

[RBB]

Pretty happy with that selection, great to see Launch starting and JDJ back in. Not  at all sure about Hampson, we need a long shift from Robson without burning him out. I think ZZ coming into the pack gives us some muscle and guile.

ED and WLR need to make sure that the wayward passing is curtailed, we have all seen what Reinach is capable of in those scenarios.

Fingers and anything else that will cross for a win ;-)

[BG]

...   we have all seen what Reinach is capable of in those scenarios.

Reinach has got some serious "wheels" and reads the intercept so well. I hope with JdJ and Campo we'll take it straight for a few phases perhaps before WLR gets to throw the "hail mary" out wide

[andermt]

The Saints Team

15 Ahsee Tuala
14 Tom Collins
13 Fraser Dingwall
12 Luther Burrell
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
10 Dan Biggar
9 Cobus Reinach

1 Francois van Wyk
2 Reece Marshall
3 Ehren Painter
4 David Ribbans
5 Courtney Lawes
6 Tom Wood (capt)
7 Lewis Ludlam
8 Teimana Harrison

Replacements:
16 James Fish
17 Alex Waller
18 Ben Franks
19 Api Ratuniyarawa
20 Heinrich Brüssow
21 Alex Mitchell
22 James Grayson
23 Andrew Kellaway

[Brandnewtorugby]

Happy New Year! Great to see Joe back another centre pair, but it could just work. Come on You Wasps, start the new year well, put last year behind you.

[Vespula Vulgaris]

All things considered that is probably as strong as we could possibly hope for.

[westwaleswasp]

I will take this team.

Got a feeling although one win will often bring two it simply won't happen the way the fixtures are. If we get this victory we can breathe a bit easier.

The next block is during the 6n, that is where we can start to get some momentum.

[BG]

Good to see Launchers back, plus Gaby is back on the bench. Jdj and Campo in the centres means Booj gets a well earned rest. For those that have knocked him recently I think he's done a sterling job for us. Neale has also stepped up to the plate and did a great job allowing out of form or injured players to fully recuperate.

Fingers crossed we get a good run with fitness and injury and can welcome back Willis snr and Reider back soon along with  a potentially rejuvenated Watson.

[coddy]

Pretty much full strength starting back line with only Gopps missing, forwards are short of starting 1,2, and 5 and 8 but those that start are not far behind at all. Can't blame injuries if we lose this one.

COYW

[RBB]

A bonus point win is now pretty important https://www.premiershiprugby.com/league-tables/gallagher-premiership-league-table/

Worcester getting a win against 11 men at the end vs. Bath, and Tigers winning puts us under significant pressure, I would suggest the right kind of pressure to motivate the team and at home. A win puts us in 5th. This is probably the hardest premiership to predict in recent years.