Always a Wasp

I am hoping that the first XV will be looking to be in Quins' faces. When Quins are under pressure is when they tend to leak turnover ball, so we should be looking for players who do just that. The backs lineup I picked are good at going forward and keeping the oppo attack behind the gainline. But, look who you have in those backs for counter attacking. If you were kicking out of trouble, would you want those backs bring the ball back at you?

To have some really disruptive, scavenging forwards who can tighten the edge of the ruck/scrum will be key. Haskell and Jones are just that. TT, JCW and MM are excellent ruck scavengers.

Despite their lack of recent game time, if Jones and Miller can start, they should start.

This is, in effect, THE game. Get 5 points and clinch top spot have a home SF, probably against Tigers. Jones should be back, as will Miller. So, I will look at just the backs. Dai has already said he is sticking with what works. He has already said he wants the team to slow it down in the first 10 and earn the right to attack. I am thinking this will be throw the kitchen sink at them time.

9. Simmo - slow and steady; great in defence
10. Gopperth. This is Dai's pairing choice. Every point counts and Gopperth scores way too many not to be on the team.
11. WLR. He has been so dangerous for us on the wing.
12. Kurtley Beale. He and Gopperth seems to be humming along nicely now. They are a world class pairing in the middle.
13. Daly. Not a lot to be said.
14. Wade. England and the Lions might not want him, and you can bet Quins won't want him on the wing either
15. Miller. Just to show the world that England has a class full back who can catch, tackle, kick, run AND pass.

On the bench for the backs Robson and Leiua yes, but is Cipriani 100% fit? I do not think he has been for a few games now and it shows, and that cannot do his confidence any good. So, I am going to throw a wild card in here - Jacob Umaga. He is missing from tonight's A League clash with Gloucester. Bristol fielded an even younger player at 10 (4th choice #10) and he played really well. So here they are:

21. Dan Robson
22. Jacob Umaga
23. Alapati Leiua

Forwards. I agree with the selection you made Raggs. I just wonder if Young would be fit to start? I guess we will find out at noon on Thursday.

For me, when I visit the main topic list, I see the NEW icon. If you click just that icon, it opens the thread and then scrolls down to the first item I have not read. and thus, it works for me.

I sort of feel for Gatland. He has a hard job. Yes, he is picking a squad. But the decisions are also political. He HAS to pick at least a few from each nation, and then somehow get the team to gel.

Whilst I was critical of some things, when I left my comments yesterday on the other place, I commented how good it was to see this flair in the team. I said how close they now looked to be gelling as a team, confident to do the offloads. But the first few minutes aren't the time to do that. KB has been massive. The team will tell you how much he helps in training. George was the same.

The commentator for the Wasps v Briz game also talked about Fekitoa coming.

10 minutes to go, and they are up.

Did they check the Bristol try with the TMO?  Pretty big knock on to miss by the AR.

Yep defo a knock on. Poor not to check it.