Teams Up - Jack's on the Bench!

[Rossm]

15 Willie Le Roux (47)
14 Marcus Watson (20)
13 Juan de Jongh (40)
12 Gaby Lovobalavu (26)
11 Josh Bassett (96)
10 Lima Sopoaga (19)
9 Joe Simpson (248)
1 Zurabi Zhvania (17)
2 Tom Cruse (54)
3 Will Stuart (27)
4 Will Rowlands (67)
5 James Gaskell (101)
6 Ashley Johnson (c) (178)
7 Ben Morris (13)
8 Nizaam Carr (28)

Replacements
16 Tommy Taylor (43)
17 Ben Harris (39)
18 Biyi Alo (0)
19 Charlie Matthews (11)
20 Jack Willis (33)
21 Craig Hampson (28)
22 Rob Miller (95)
23 Michael Le Bourgeois (14)

Wasps back row Jack Willis is set to make a return to action as he is named among the replacements for Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership Round 14 clash with Sale Sharks at Ricoh Arena (kick-off 2pm).

The 22-year-old Academy product has spent the last nine months on the sidelines with a knee injury but is restored to the match-day 23, as Wasps search for a third consecutive league victory in their hunt for the play-offs after wins over Northampton Saints and then Bristol Bears last weekend.

Winger Marcus Watson returns to the side on the right flank in place of Michele Campagnaro, who is on international duty with Italy, while Ben Morris deputises at openside flanker for Thomas Young who misses out through illness.

Lima Sopoaga is back at fly half after Billy Searle is ruled out with a significant ankle injury and he partners Joe Simpson in the half-back combination. The scrum half steps in for his 249th Wasps appearance in the absence of Dan Robson, who’s named on the bench for England for their Six Nations clash in Wales.

Coventry RFC's Biyi Alo comes in as replacement tighthead and could make his Wasps debut in place of Simon McIntyre, who took a knock in training and misses out with concussion.

Lock Charlie Matthews, scrum half Craig Hampson and centre Michael Le Bourgeois also come into the replacements.

Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “On the back of any win you’re a bit more buoyant. It was a tough game last week and we should’ve won more comfortably than we did but we showed a lot of resilience at the end to get over the line.

“Obviously we’re always looking for performances but they’re not more important than results at the minute.

“Northampton haven’t done us any favours after their win over Sale last week. They’ll be climbing off the walls after that and we know we’re going to have some nasty faces this weekend and we’re going to have to match that physicality first and foremost to allow us to play.

“They’ll be coming down here to try and put the record straight but you have to deal with those factors. They should come down with lots of energy and intent so it has to mean a lot to us as well and we have to back up last week.”

Fans can watch the Wales v England game in Hall 3 of Ricoh Arena following Wasps’ crucial clash with the Sharks.

[NellyWellyWaspy]

Neal is fit again, but not selected, and Umaga is back from Carnegie, also not selected. He has bulked up somewhat.

[Rossm]

Sorry to read that Chesty may still have concussion problems. I expect Neal and Umaga may be being held in reserve.

[andermt]

Was at the training session at the Ricoh this morning and they were using Millar as the replacement 10.

Dai also mentioned that YY had been released back to Wasps but had a chest infection so couldn't play.

[Vespula Vulgaris]

Worrying to hear about Chesty.  But in some ways reassuring to hear YY is poorly not just dropped.

[Rossm]

Could be a long shift for Will Stuart? Chesty was penciled in as TH replacement but got a knock in training. I wonder if we will see Biyi on? Presumably this quote from the team announcement "Coventry RFC's Biyi Alo comes in as replacement tighthead" means that he is on loan at the moment. Playing for a contract? He'll be out to impress if he gets on.

[Rossm]

Taken from the Sale board:

No flyhalf or full back in the 23 is a worry.

I must say I agree with the poster And I thought our injury list has been bad!

[NellyWellyWaspy]

Could be a long shift for Will Stuart? Chesty was penciled in as TH replacement but got a knock in training. I wonder if we will see Biyi on? Presumably this quote from the team announcement "Coventry RFC's Biyi Alo comes in as replacement tighthead" means that he is on loan at the moment. Playing for a contract? He'll be out to impress if he gets on.

The 'rumour' is that he now has a contract for next year. Looked good today in the open training session. A fit, big unit.

[Rossm]

Could be a long shift for Will Stuart? Chesty was penciled in as TH replacement but got a knock in training. I wonder if we will see Biyi on? Presumably this quote from the team announcement "Coventry RFC's Biyi Alo comes in as replacement tighthead" means that he is on loan at the moment. Playing for a contract? He'll be out to impress if he gets on.

The 'rumour' is that he now has a contract for next year. Looked good today in the open training session. A fit, big unit.

Must have lost a few pounds since his Warriors' days

[BG]

I'm pretty sure the knock that Chesty took in training was to his knee and not concussion..

[AKWasp]

Taken from the Sale board:

No flyhalf or full back in the 23 is a worry.

I must say I agree with the poster And I thought our injury list has been bad!

Found it quite strange that they didn’t go for O’Connor at 10 and McGuigan at 15 since both of them have played internationally in those positions

[Rossm]

Sorry. Forgot to post Sharks' team.

15. Luke James, 14. Denny Solomona, 13. James O’Connor, 12. Rohan Janse Van Rensburg, 11. Byron McGuigan, 10. Sam James, 9. Faf De Klerk, 1. Valery Morozov, 2. Rob Webber, 3. Will-Griff John, 5. James Phillips, 6. Jono Ross (Capt.), 7. Ben Curry, 8. Josh Beaumont.

Replacements: 16. Curtis Langdon, 17. Tom Bristow, 18. Joe Jones, 19. Andrei Ostrikov, 20. Cameron Neild, 21. Will Cliff, 22. Cameron Redpath, 23. Arron Reed.

[Brandnewtorugby]

Taken from the Sale board:

No flyhalf or full back in the 23 is a worry.

I must say I agree with the poster And I thought our injury list has been bad!

Found it quite strange that they didn’t go for O’Connor at 10 and McGuigan at 15 since both of them have played internationally in those positions

Perhaps they will, could be playing games with the announcement?

[AKWasp]

Wouldn’t surprise me BNTR. Raises the question of playing your best player for each position, or playing your players in their best positions.

Wasps have done more of the former with Daly and Gopps at 11 and 12 respectively but seems like Sale are going for the latter by keeping O’Connor at 13 and McGuigan at 11. Could say that the partnerships (especially in the centres) are more important?

[Heathen]

I note that Tom Bristow, once of this parish, is on their bench.