Always a Wasp
General Category => Wasps Rugby Discussion => Topic started by: Rossm on May 19, 2022, 12:01:21 PM
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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
Get your tickets HERE.
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
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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
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Still no sign of Mills…
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No Jacob - hmmm.
Sale look very strong. Maybe too strong.
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Very strong Sale selection.
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Interesting that Jacob is dropped. I’d have played Odogwu for Hougaard.
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No Jacob - hmmm.
Sale look very strong. Maybe too strong.
Big surprise that Jacob hasn't been selected.
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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.
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Their only weak spot is van der - Merwe’s line out throwing. We really need to attack it.
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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...
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The Curried Saffas look more than a tad useful.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Can't see a win for us. Hope I'm wrong. Funny mix.
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Probably the strongest selection Sale could have made??? Not feeling too confident....
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Can’t decide if I want Jono Ross to get a yellow ( or any other shark come to that) considering our recent form against reduced sides.
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We need everyone to "come off" so to speak, but I will be watching more in hope than expectation.....It's Jacob aside, prob our best starting backline - given who's played recently - and the pack is the equal of any. Time we produced perhaps?
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Latest odds from SkyBet:
Wasps:- 8/15 on
Sale:- 11/8 against
Draw 20/1.
So the bookies have us as marginal favourites.
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Remarkably, only Fifita, Harris and Martinez listed as unavailable! The stuff of dreams not so long ago. I remember being a little bit excited when the injury list dropped into single digits!!
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No Cruse? That puzzles me because he was first choice by a country mile pre injury.
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Never, Oghre has absolutely nailed that shirt now.
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I wonder how Wasps will deal with the kick, chase, smash. Might be why Crossdale finally gets picked? Sometimes wonder if it is better to concentrate on timing the tackle rather than try to compete for every ball and get hammered.
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+1
Judging by the number of times we knock on from a restart or any kick chase, I’d be suggesting we should let them have it then smash then and get turnover ball.
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Interesting that Jacob is dropped. I’d have played Odogwu for Hougaard.
That's insane. Hougaard has been one of our best defenders when he's played and has quite a few SA caps in that position. Recently Paulo, who I really rate, has been missing in action.
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Disagree. Hougaard makes eye catching tackles but he’s often out of position. There have been lots of instances of him stepping out of the line for a hit allowing easy access outside him. He also lacks the pace going the other way and doesn’t have Odogwu’s power.
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Disappointed Spink hasn’t been selected.
I just don’t get the reasoning for still picking Fekitoa. Don’t get it.
We should be giving Sam Spink the big match experience….so his learning opportunities sky rocket.
I still think he’s already a better option at 13.
At least we have some more pace at 15. Let’s hope we actually create chances to use it.
I haven’t a clue which way this game is going.
It feels like there’s something fundamental missing from our game at the moment, so not holding my breath.
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Interesting that Jacob is dropped. I’d have played Odogwu for Hougaard.
That's insane. Hougaard has been one of our best defenders when he's played and has quite a few SA caps in that position. Recently Paulo, who I really rate, has been missing in action.
Agree Hougaard is very physical in defence, but he has been caught out of position. More than that though I'd like Paolo's additional pace coming off the blindside and attacking Rob du Preez, who is not a great defender at 13.
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Still no sign of Mills…
Shame he didn't make the bench along with Miller and Millar-Mills, as that would have made the commentators' final 10 minutes or so interesting!
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Disagree. Hougaard makes eye catching tackles but he’s often out of position. There have been lots of instances of him stepping out of the line for a hit allowing easy access outside him. He also lacks the pace going the other way and doesn’t have Odogwu’s power.
Dogs 'Power and Pace' hasn't shown up all season and while Hougaard might have been out of position, that's better than Dog being in position and still failing to tackle. Hougaard all day for me..or better still, let's give Mehson a go. The season is already a dumpster fire.
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Yes, I wouldn’t mind seeing Mehson given a shot. For me Hougaard just lacks the pace to be a potent threat. Opposition wingers can allow him possession and easily still hunt him down.
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I've noticed Hougaard coming infield to attempt a tackle to snuff out a threatening run out of defence by the opposition, usually from their 22. Even when the pass gets shipped and he is not directly challging the widest man he mostly still manages to get back to make the cover tackle. For me that is good defence, putting pressure on the attack, not being out of position. Necessary because the other backs haven't excerpted the pressure required.
The last time Ali Crossdale played Hougaard made all of the tackles Ali missed and was man of the match.
Paulo is brilliant when on form, but currently he isn't. Otherwise he'd be starting.