Always a Wasp
General Category => Wasps Rugby Discussion => Topic started by: Neils on February 18, 2022, 11:58:47 AM
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Lee Blackett has named his side to travel to Harlequins in Gallagher Premiership Round 17 on Saturday.
There are six personnel changes and one positional switch from the team that beat Bath last Saturday.
Jack Willis returns to Wasps’ matchday 23 for the first time since January 2021, as he is named amongst the replacements.
Tom Willis and Jacob Umaga also return to the side, as they start at number eight and full-back respectively.
Ryan Mills starts his first Wasps game since September 2020, having provided two try-assists off the bench against Bath last week. He forms the centre partnership with Sam Spink.
Dan Robson captains the side from scrum-half, in the absence of Joe Launchbury, who is away with England. Robson and Charlie Atkinson form the half-back pairing once more.
Joining Tom Willis in the back row are Ben Morris and Vaea Fifita, as Brad Shields misses out with a rib injury and Alfie Barbeary is in training camp with England.
Umaga is joined by Paolo Odogwu and Josh Bassett in the back three.
James Gaskell and Elliott Stooke are the locks, while Tom West, Tom Cruse and Biyi Alo are the front row trio.
On the bench, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen is in line to make his 50th Premiership appearance. Nizaam Carr also returns to the squad. They are joined by Gabriel Oghre, Bomber Hislop, Jack Willis, Will Porter, Jimmy Gopperth and Marcus Watson as the other replacements.
Wasps team to face Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday (kick-off 3:00pm)
Wasps (First-team appearances)
1 Tom West (64)
2 Tom Cruse (111)
3 Biyi Alo (30)
4 James Gaskell (148)
5 Elliott Stooke (16)
6 Vaea Fifita (13)
7 Ben Morris (50)
8 Tom Willis (52)
9 Dan Robson (146) (c)
10 Charlie Atkinson (24)
11 Josh Bassett (167)
12 Ryan Mills (8)
13 Sam Spink (16)
14 Paolo Odogwu (28)
15 Jacob Umaga (60)
Replacements
16 Gabriel Oghre (58)
17 Robin Hislop (15)
18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (58)
19 Nizaam Carr (68)
20 Jack Willis (66)
21 Will Porter (44)
22 Jimmy Gopperth (144)
23 Marcus Watson (64)
Unavailable (10): Alfie Barbeary, Malakai Fekitoa, Dan Frost, Francois Hougaard, Zach Kibirige, Joe Launchbury, Rodrigo Martinez, Matteo Minozzi, Brad Shields, Thomas Young.
Tickets are available for our next
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Really interesting team, but screw all that: JACK'S BACK
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Let's all hope there is no Alex Reider moment.
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to play:
1. Joe Marler
2. Jack Walker
3. Will Collier
4. Matt Symons
5. Hugh Tizard
6. Stephan Lewies (c)
7. Luke Wallace
8. Archie White
9. Danny Care
10. Will Edwards
11. Cadan Murley
12. Andre Esterhuizen
13. Huw Jones
14. Oscar Beard
15. Tyrone Green
Impact Players
16. Sam Riley
17. Simon Kerrod
18. Wilco Louw
19. Tom Lawday
20. James Chisholm
21. Lewis Gjaltema
22. Tommy Allan
23. Louis Lynagh
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Yay!!!!
I like the look of that team.
WELCOME BACK JACK.
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Question: how often have Jack and Tom played together for the same Wasps senior side?
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Wow - didn’t expect that. Didn’t expect one Willis, let alone two. Outside of that I worry about Umaga defensively at 15. I’d far rather he and Atkinson just rotate at 10. Is Crossdale injured? He’s not on the list. For me he’s a shoe in at 15. Apart from full back that back line has a good balance about it. I was a bit worried about our carrying power in the back row but Willis really enhances that.
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Will this be the first time?
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Let’s remember the weather conditions tomorrow.
Jacob has got a good boot and knows how to use it.
He’s also pretty good under a high ball.
I think having 3 playmakers on the pitch is a good call.
As for long term, probably Crossdale.
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That is a great looking side!
They look a little light on some departments but Edwards had a very good game against us last time when we thought we would enjoy Marcus Smith not being around
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Having Marler and Collier back is huge for them as it is key to all they do. Would be far more optimistic without those two back.
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Oh WONDERFUL ............ TWO Willises!!!!!!!!!!! ;D ;D
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........................ and the others look bloomin' good too!
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Question: how often have Jack and Tom played together for the same Wasps senior side?
They've both been in the XXIII 13 times. First was Saracens (08/10/2017) where Tom started on the bench. Most recent was against Bath in Jan last year.
Jack has started every game where they have both appeared and Tom started 8, coming off the bench the other 5 times.
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Wow - really excited by the wasps selection.
Harlequins squad - particularly their front row - looks good too.
Delighted to see the Willis's and Ryan Mills and Jacob and Jamma and .........
Wowser.
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Looking forward to going now
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Let’s remember the weather conditions tomorrow.
Jacob has got a good boot and knows how to use it.
He’s also pretty good under a high ball.
I think having 3 playmakers on the pitch is a good call.
As for long term, probably Crossdale.
I was going to comment on the weather, its likely to make fools of kickers and catchers at times.
Great to see Jack back, I just hope he doesn't put too much pressure on himself to perform. My guess is that if we stay injury free and in the game Lee won't bring Jack on until the last 15 mins or so.
Looking forward to seeing that 10, 12, 15 combination. If they can get some good ball its got a lot of promise and I wouldn't be surprised to see Jacob in as first receiver occasionally. Could be a bit weak defensively though so the back row are going to have to get stuck in.
On the subject of Jacob, he's not only going to get peppered with high balls I expect Esterhuizen to target him to see if he's learned his lesson.
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I worry about Umaga defensively at 15. I’d far rather he and Atkinson just rotate at 10. Is Crossdale injured? He’s not on the list. For me he’s a shoe in at 15.
I'd worry far more about Crossdale defensively. Against Leicester he dropped balls, missed tackles and his positioning was sometimes questionable. He was bailed out by a superb performance from Hougaard covering from him.
Crossdale is exciting in attack and has lots of potential but has to be more sound defensively., which I'm sure the coaches will be working on. I'm not sure why he's got this reputation for being "the business". A while ago I'd say the same about Rob Miller.
Interestingly Jacob was picked at fullback, with Crossdale shifted to the wing, for the Toulouse game following the Leicester win.
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Having Marler and Collier back is huge for them as it is key to all they do. Would be far more optimistic without those two back.
Totally agree with that, as well as playing at home and desperate to get back to winning ways, it's going to be a tough match.
I'm pleased with our squad so definitely not out of the question. Jacob at full back instead of Crossdale surprises me.
Really looking forward to Mills playing at 12, up against the best 12 in the league, so a big challenge
So happy to see Jack back, 20 minutes would be nice
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I worry about Umaga defensively at 15. I’d far rather he and Atkinson just rotate at 10. Is Crossdale injured? He’s not on the list. For me he’s a shoe in at 15.
I'd worry far more about Crossdale defensively. Against Leicester he dropped balls, missed tackles and his positioning was sometimes questionable. He was bailed out by a superb performance from Hougaard covering from him.
Crossdale is exciting in attack and has lots of potential but has to be more sound defensively., which I'm sure the coaches will be working on. I'm not sure why he's got this reputation for being "the business". A while ago I'd say the same about Rob Miller.
Interestingly Jacob was picked at fullback, with Crossdale shifted to the wing, for the Toulouse game following the Leicester win.
We’ll have to agree to disagree about that. For me Crossdale is not quite the business yet but he’s a more rounded full back than Umaga and certainly one with better tackling technique. Miller can count himself unlucky - one bad game and he’s dropped altogether - seems to be his lot whereas others are afforded more time.
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OMG Jack!!!!!!
One minute at the end is plenty though, then 2 mins next time. Gently does it…… Anything else and I’ll be a nervous wreck.
That team is really starting to look like something isn’t it?
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Still blowing a howling gale outside. Glad to be back. Hastings has had a series of long power outs since 10.30.
Very happy with that selection - with both Tom and Jack back. Also particularly pleased that Spinky has suffered no ill affects after being laid low by Rokodoguni.
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Still blowing a howling gale outside. Glad to be back. Hastings has had a series of long power outs since 10.30.
Yes , the wife has been staring through the window since it started.might let her in soon.
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Question: how often have Jack and Tom played together for the same Wasps senior side?
They've both been in the XXIII 13 times. First was Saracens (08/10/2017) where Tom started on the bench. Most recent was against Bath in Jan last year.
Jack has started every game where they have both appeared and Tom started 8, coming off the bench the other 5 times.
Great facts. Appreciated.
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Still blowing a howling gale outside. Glad to be back. Hastings has had a series of long power outs since 10.30.
Yes , the wife has been staring through the window since it started.might let her in soon.
😀😀😀😀
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Is there any news on Crossdale? His exclusions are interesting as he’s not unavailable. I’d expect to see him more than we are.
Is Jacob going to be a 15 long term? I prefer him to Charlie at 10. Not a critique of Charlie I was at Sandy Park and he is bloody good.
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Who will take the kicks ? Jacob or Charlie?
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Who will take the kicks ? Jacob or Charlie?
Or Mills?
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Nice surprise, I thought he was still some way off returning.
What would be an appropriate collective noun for Willises?
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Nice surprise, I thought he was still some way off returning.
What would be an appropriate collective noun for Willises?
Destructors
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Who will take the kicks ? Jacob or Charlie?
That'll be something very interesting to learn from this game.
If the wind is still blowing, the kicking probably won't be great, but whoever takes the first place kick will presumably be our No.1 after Jimmy
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Who will take the kicks ? Jacob or Charlie?
I'd have a competition in training the week before, maybe Thursday. Ten kicks from various difficult positions across the field with a sudden death play off. Whoever wins it gets to be 1st choice kicker in the game.
And let anyone else who fancies being 1st choice kicker join in.
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That's only required if Lee is undecided who is number 1 kicker is.
He may know already
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Surprised but very happy with the team.
Had a look back to the game against Quins in November. They have a very similar back line; only changes being Huw Jones and Oscar Beard (instead of Northmore and David). Ours is radically different though - Porter was at 9, Booj and McHenry in the centres etc.
Quins did not kick much at all last game - 302m all game and 302m of these were from scrum-half so mostly box-kicks. Neither Edwards nor Esterhuizen kicked at all. By contrast we kicked 562m (278m from 9). We also gave away 15 penalties (they didn't kick any of these either and Esterhuizen took the conversions). Our discipline has really tightened up, 9 pens last week and 7 the week before. I think any kicking game is going to be interesting but we seem to have a lot more options in that facet.
Looking at the pack, scrum should be fun, Marler and Collier up with the best in the league but I'll back West and Alo to give as good as they get. I think this was the game that Zac Nearchou struggled in last time and that gave Quins some easy outs. Nice symmetry in the back row with a us both going for a big 6 more used to the second row and two back rows on the bench coming back after not much game time (bit of an understatement in Jack's case).
Looking forward to tomorrow and hoping I get away form work early to be able to watch.
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Disappointed to see Marler back for them, but those are the breaks, they have lost good players retained by England too.
Not hugely optimistic, but not too pessimistic either.
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That's only required if Lee is undecided who is number 1 kicker is.
He may know already
Well if we get a penalty in our own half around the 60 - 65 yard mark, then Mills may hv a go. He’s got a big boot on him, like Daly.
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In this wind, I'd back myself from 65m
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In this wind, I'd back myself from 65m
….in the first half! ;D
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Disappointed to see Marler back for them, but those are the breaks, they have lost good players retained by England too.
Not hugely optimistic, but not too pessimistic either.
I think this game is going to be huge for Biyi Alo. I've been very impressed with him recently. His work round the pitch and tackling have really come on as well as his scrummaging.
I'm hoping his form is a result of the work done by Wasps fitness and coaching teams and not having to put himself in the shop window. If he's playing for a new Wasps contract he definitely deserves it.
In fact he may be putting himself in the shop window for international honours if he performs well against Marler and continues to progress, given the lack of decent English tightheads.
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Thought when Jack was warming up last week we may see him sooner rather than later. Thrilled for him, Fifita and Willis x 2 could easily make a claim for the most athletic back row in Europe.
With regards to Alo, he rarely rampages through a scrum like Sheridan or Cole but he has an invaluable ability to never go backwards. I think his sheer size also discourages officials from pinging him, you have to do some mental gymnastics to think a man like that needs to bend the rules at scrum time.
With CMK and the weather I can't see tomorrows game flowing, a lot of pressure will be on Jacob at 15. If he comes through well, we have a chance.
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Alo- most improved player at Wasps in the last two years?
Seems to be a lot,lot fitter.
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Who will take the kicks ? Jacob or Charlie?
I'd have a competition in training the week before, maybe Thursday. Ten kicks from various difficult positions across the field with a sudden death play off. Whoever wins it gets to be 1st choice kicker in the game.
And let anyone else who fancies being 1st choice kicker join in.
Last time Wasps did this we ended up with a Hooker (playing in the back row) kicking...
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Disappointed to see Marler back for them, but those are the breaks, they have lost good players retained by England too.
Not hugely optimistic, but not too pessimistic either.
I think this game is going to be huge for Biyi Alo. I've been very impressed with him recently. His work round the pitch and tackling have really come on as well as his scrummaging.
I'm hoping his form is a result of the work done by Wasps fitness and coaching teams and not having to put himself in the shop window. If he's playing for a new Wasps contract he definitely deserves it.
In fact he may be putting himself in the shop window for international honours if he performs well against Marler and continues to progress, given the lack of decent English tightheads.
Even I’ve started to ponder thoughts of Alo being looked at with Eng, and I wasn’t happy with his signing. The change in him has been extraordinary.
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... With CMK and the weather I can't see tomorrows game flowing ...
Had to double take and check my calendar. If our team turns up tomorrow, we will have lost already.