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)
Topic: Sides for Sunday (Read 2797 times)
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