Always a Wasp

Very impressive from these 2:

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/gallagher-premierships-top-five-player-7001044?fbclid=IwAR3TxSJF_nckkePp3LxAM0ugN4kk0Lo2xS-YnCj_rPwkT1MvbTSQyyez8fo

I have 3 spare tickets available for the Bears match this Friday. There are 7 of us going, but it is cheaper to buy at the group price of £23 per ticket, happy to let them go at that price, please let me know if interested. I've put them here first but will also put on the Facebook groups at lunchtime if no response.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/300357359/quade-cooper-gets-a-doubledown-no-over-his-bid-to-be-australian-citizen?fbclid=IwAR1qs1A6uthLSwQvFRDBVQ5mLZckkTCW8YpjYW1eD3oGAzDr5dIftxE30ZU

Pretty shocking that they were happy enough for him to represent their country, but won't grant him citizenship. Really makes a mockery of the residency rules IMO.

Also, can't believe he's only 33, seems to have been around a long, long time.

Wasps team to face London Irish at Ricoh Arena on Saturday in Gallagher Premiership Round 11 (kick-off 3:00 pm)

Wasps (First-team appearances)

15 Matteo Minozzi (26)

14 Zach Kibirige (36)

13 Juan de Jongh (64)

12 Michael Le Bourgeois (47)

11 Josh Bassett (137)

10 Jacob Umaga (39)

9 Will Porter (26)

1 Tom West (44)

2 Tom Cruse (94)

3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen (33)

4 Will Rowlands (100)

5 James Gaskell (132)

6 Brad Shields (40) (c)

7 Gabriel Oghre (33)

8 Tom Willis (32)

 

Replacements

16 Tommy Taylor (81)

17 Ben Harris (71)

18 Nicky Thomas (0)

19 Levi Douglas (7)

20 Sione Vailanu (22)

21 Ben Vellacott (13)

22 Charlie Atkinson (10)

23 Jimmy Gopperth (118)

So, I finally get tickets for Italy V England when it is the last match of the tournament, so hopefully weather is on the turn, and now that sodding virus is causing big issues in Italy, I know it hasn't reached Rome yet, but my wife has recently got over cancer so her immune system is still slightly weakened. Proper pissed off with this news.......

Wasps team to play Saracens


 Ashley Johnson captains Wasps against Saracens on Sunday in the much-anticipated clash between the Aviva Premiership’s second and third-placed clubs.

 The South African hooker is joined in the front row by Jake Cooper-Woolley and Ben Harris, who makes a first top-flight start in black-and-gold.

 Subject to recovering from a heavy cold, club captain Joe Launchbury is rotated to the bench after playing every minute of the last four matches. England Saxons pair James Gaskell and Kearnan Myall are therefore partnered in the second row.

 The back-row trio that performed so well at Bath is given another chance to impress, as is the back division that shared all of the five tries claimed at the Rec.

 Former England under 20 loose head Tom West is in line to make his Premiership debut from a powerful bench which includes experienced quartet Guy Thompson, Marty Moore, Rob Miller and Joe Simpson.

 And with confidence in the home camp high following consecutive wins over La Rochelle, Gloucester and Bath, rugby director Dai Young said the squad is keenly anticipating the chance to test itself against the European champions.

“Saracens are a quality team - you don't achieve what they have over the last couple of seasons and have huge weaknesses,” he said.

“We know we have to be at our best but we're looking forward to it. We've had a couple of good wins which has built the belief up, but know this is a big test for us.

“We have to take the game to them as you're going to come unstuck if you try to sit back and contain them.

“We all know about their legendary defensive line-speed, but I think sometimes you have to run at it. If you take it on you make it hard for it to be really effective, then hopefully we can get some penetration and cause them some problems out wide."

 Wasps team to play Saracens

 15. Willie Le Roux
 14. Christian Wade
 13. Juan De Jongh
 12. Gaby Lovobalavu
 11. Marcus Watson
 10. Danny Cipriani
 9. Dan Robson
 1. Ben Harris
 2. Ashley Johnson ©
3. Jake Cooper-Woolley
 4. James Gaskell
 5. Kearnan Myall
 6. James Haskell
 7. Thomas Young
 8. Nizaam Carr

 Replacements:

 16. Tom Cruse
 17. Tom West
 18. Marty Moore
 19. Joe Launchbury
 20. Guy Thompson
 21. Joe Simpson
 22. Rob Miller
 23. Guy Armitage


Richard Wigglesworth will make his 200th appearance on Sunday afternoon as Saracens travel to Coventry to face Wasps at the Ricoh Arena.

 'Wiggy' reaches the appearance landmark after seven and a half years of playing for the club and starts at scrum-half alongside Owen Farrell at fly-half.

 Chris Tolofua comes into the side at hooker and will line up alongside Mako Vunipola and Vincent Koch with the returning Maro Itoje and Nick Isiekwe forming the remainder of the tight five in the second row.

 Michael Rhodes continues his return from injury on the blindside while Billy Vunipola returns from his injury to start at Number 8 with Schalk Burger completing the back row.

 Captain Brad Barritt and Duncan Taylor form the centre partnership as Nathan Earle and Chris Wyles continue on the wings, Alex Goode starts at full-back.
 1.Mako Vunipola (133)
 2.Christopher Tolofua (12)
 3.Vincent Koch (31)
 4.Maro Itoje (84)
 5.Nick Isiekwe (21)
 6.Michael Rhodes (62)
 7.Schalk Burger (39)
 8.Billy Vunipola (80)
 9.Richard Wigglesworth (199)
 10.Owen Farrell (164)
 11.Chris Wyles (241)
 12.Brad Barritt © (208)
 13.Duncan Taylor (110)
 14.Nathan Earle (31)
 15.Alex Goode (247)
 16.Jamie George (185)
 17.Richard Barrington (122)
 18.Juan Figallo (74)
 19.Will Skelton (18)
 20.Jackson Wray (189)
 21.Ben Spencer (118)
 22.Alex Lozowski (45)
 23.Sean Maitland (31)

Wasps team to play London Irish on Sunday

 
Dai Young has named his team to travel to London Irish on Sunday, in Round 9 of the Aviva Premiership which is dedicated to Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign.
 
Wasps welcome back Danny Cipriani who is named on the bench, in line to make his first appearance for the club since sustaining a knee injury against Harlequins in mid-September.

There are two changes to Wasps’ starting back-line from last weekend’s bonus point win over Newcastle Falcons, with Joe Simpson named at scrum-half and Gaby Lovobalavu at inside centre. Kyle Eastmond, who made an impressive 40-minute return from injury last Saturday, is following return-to-play protocols after his HIA.

In the pack, Nizaam Carr makes his first Aviva Premiership start for Wasps having impressed from the bench against Newcastle Falcons.

Ahead of the trip to the Madejski Stadium, Wasps’ Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “We were really pleased with our accuracy, ball retention and the balance between our kicking and running game against Newcastle, but it wasn’t a perfect performance, it rarely is, so there’s still lots to improve on as we head to the Madejski Stadium.

“We’re going to a difficult place and London Irish will be fighting for their lives. I’m sure they will be targeting every home game and will feel Sunday is a huge opportunity for them.

“Irish have pushed teams really close, including Bath last week, and I don’t think they’ve had the bounce of the ball on occasions. One or two decisions have gone against them, but I feel they are on the verge of putting a few wins together and we don’t want that to start against us this Sunday.

“They’ve shown some really high-quality play for long periods and at some point it will really click for them for the whole game, so there is no way we will underestimate them.

“If you take your foot off the pedal or you’re 10% below your best, any team can beat any other in this league as we saw last week. This is a massive game for us and a huge block of Premiership matches. Last week was a big win, but we have to back it up this week. We’ve put ourselves back in the mix, but we have to stay there at the end of this round before returning home to the Ricoh to take on Leicester Tigers.”

Wasps team to play London Irish

15. Willie Le Roux
 14. Christian Wade
 13. Juan De Jongh
 12. Gaby Lovobalavu
 11. Josh Bassett
 10. Jimmy Gopperth
 9. Joe Simpson
 1.  Simon McIntyre
 2.  Ashley Johnson ©
3.  Jake Cooper-Woolley
 4. James Gaskell
 5.  Will Rowlands 
 6.  James Haskell
 7.  Thomas Young
 8.  Nizaam Carr

Replacements

16. Nathan Charles
 17. Ben Harris
 18. Marty Moore
 19. Kearnan Myall
 20. Guy Thompson
 21. Dan Robson
 22. Danny Cipriani
 23. Rob Miller

Travel advice for supporters: M4 closure this weekend

We have been advised that the M4 will be closed all weekend (from 9pm Friday 24 until 6 am Monday 27 November) between junctions 12 (Theale) and 13 (Chieveley) in both directions.

Diversions will be in place, but people are advised to plan their journeys in advance and leave early as long delays are expected.

Any enquiries should be directed to Highways England's Customer Control Centre on: 0300 123 5000

Wasps next home game sees the men in black and gold take on old rivals Leicester Tigers, at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday 2 December.

Hospitality has sold out bar the extra offering of the Sudbury Suite, where only limited places remain. To book please contact hospitality@wasps.co.uk

Over 20,000 tickets have already been sold to Wasps v Tigers. The West Stand is nearly sold out and the club has opened the South Stand to accommodate the high demand.