Team's Up for Tigs.

[Rossm]

Lee Blackett has named his Wasps side to host Leicester Tigers, in front of fans at Ricoh Arena, in the final round of the Gallagher Premiership on Saturday.

There are five changes to the starting line-up that won against London Irish last time out.

Malakai Fekitoa returns from injury to partner Michael Le Bourgeois in the centres. 

Josh Bassett will make his 150th Wasps appearance on Saturday, as he forms the back three with Marcus Watson and Rob Miller, who comes in for the injured Charlie Atkinson at full-back.

Jacob Umaga will also make his 50th Wasps appearance on Saturday, as he once again forms the half-back partnership with Dan Robson. 

The front row trio of Simon McIntyre, Tommy Taylor and Kieran Brookes line up for their final appearances in Wasps colours.

Will Rowlands also makes his final outing in Black and Gold in the second row with James Gaskell.

The only other change to the pack sees Sione Vailanu come in for the injured Thomas Young. Vailanu starts at number eight in his final Wasps game, meaning man-of-the-match from last week Tom Willis moves to blindside flanker and captain Brad Shields shifts to seven.

Amongst the replacements there is a welcome return to action for Alfie Barbeary. He is joined on the bench by Gabriel Oghre, Ben Harris, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Tim Cardall, Jimmy Gopperth, Juan de Jongh and Ben Vellacott, with de Jongh and Vellacott in line to play their last games for the Club.

Wasps team to face Leicester Tigers at Ricoh Arena on Saturday in Gallagher Premiership Round 22 (kick-off 3:00pm)

Wasps (First-team appearances)

15 Rob Miller (125)

14 Marcus Watson (51)

13 Malakai Fekitoa (36)

12 Michael Le Bourgeois (58)

11 Josh Bassett (149)

10 Jacob Umaga (49)

9 Dan Robson (136)

1 Simon McIntyre (183)

2 Tommy Taylor (90)

3 Kieran Brookes (58)

4 Will Rowlands (112)

5 James Gaskell (140)

6 Tom Willis (40)

7 Brad Shields (52) (c)

8 Sione Vailanu (31)

 

Replacements

16 Gabriel Oghre (45)

17 Ben Harris (79)

18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen (44)

19 Tim Cardall (29)

20 Alfie Barbeary (14)

21 Ben Vellacott (19)

22 Jimmy Gopperth (127)

23 Juan de Jongh (66)


Unavailable due to injury: Charlie Atkinson (Concussion), Lasha Jaiani (Pectoral), Zach Kibirige (Ankle), Joe Launchbury (ACL), Ryan Mills (Foot), Matteo Minozzi (Eye), Paolo Odogwu (ACL), Will Simonds (Groin), Sam Spink (Groin), Theo Vukasinovic (Achilles), Tom West (LCL/Hamstring), Jack Willis (PCL/MCL), Thomas Young (Hamstring).

[NellyWellyWaspy]

That injury list is just two players short of a team!

[RogerE]

Note that it definitely mentions the last games for those we know are going to leave, but nothing against Gopps or Miller, so hopefully both are with us for next season.

[Rossm]

And the oppo.

Steve Borthwick has named the Leicester Tigers matchday squad to take on Wasps at the Ricoh Arena in the final game of the Gallagher Premiership season.

Julián Montoya makes his first starting appearance since the meeting with Wasps in Round 10 of the campaign after returning from injury as a replacement in Round 21 last week.

The Argentina captain is joined in the Leicester front row by Ellis Genge and Dan Cole, with Borthwick naming an unchanged second-row pairing of Harry Wells and Cameron Henderson.

Loose-head prop Genge will captain the side.

Jasper Wiese returns to the starting line-up at No.8, with Hanro Liebenberg moving to openside flanker. George Martin retains his place at blindside.

Jack Van Poortvliet and Johnny McPhillips are the Tigers half-backs, in the duo’s first starting appearance together this season.

Dan Kelly returns to the matchday squad at inside-centre in a midfield pairing with Matt Scott.

Zack Henry starts at full-back, with Freddie Steward and Nemani Nadolo as the wings.

Charlie Clare, James Whitcombe and Joe Heyes are the front-row replacements, with Tomás Lavanini and Ollie Chessum included the other forwards on the Leicester bench. Ben Youngs, Matías Moroni and Kini Murimurivalu are the backs replacements.

Speaking about the matchday squad named for the trip to Coventry, Steve Borthwick said: “I want to see an 80-minute performance in each position, whether it is a player selected in the starting side or coming on to the field to finish the game from the bench.”

Previewing the game against Wasps, the Leicester Tigers head coach added: “Wasps are coming off an impressive, come-from-behind win last weekend and will be high on confidence ahead of the final game of the season in front of their supporters.

“We are looking forward to the challenge against a Wasps side who boast experienced, world-class players throughout their squad.”

TIGERS XV:
[club appearances in brackets]

15 Zack Henry [25]

14 Freddie Steward [34]

13 Matt Scott [24]

12 Dan Kelly [19]

11 Nemani Nadolo [15]

10 Johnny McPhillips [21]

9 Jack Van Poortvliet [20]

1 Ellis Genge (c) [88]

2 Julián Montoya [5]

3 Dan Cole [263]

4 Harry Wells [123]

5 Cameron Henderson [16]

6 George Martin [16]

7 Hanro Liebenberg [35]

8 Jasper Wiese [19]

REPLACEMENTS:

16 Charlie Clare [33]

17 James Whitcombe [6]

18 Joe Heyes [71]

19 Tomás Lavanini [36]

20 Ollie Chessum [7]

21 Ben Youngs [263]

22 Matías Moroni [16]

23 Kini Murimurivalu [22]

[Neils]

Note that it definitely mentions the last games for those we know are going to leave, but nothing against Gopps or Miller, so hopefully both are with us for next season.

I don't think you are wrong. Nobody knows the length of Rob's fairly recent extension. Jimmy did say he was in negotiations so it may be on how much he plays versus coaching maybe in place of Masi.

[Rossm]

Some surprise on Tigers' board at Zach Henry starting at 15.

[Steve from Cov]

Very decent Wasps selection. Delighted to see that Alfie can make an impact from the bench.

Henry at full back and Steward on the wing suggests a Tigers bore fest with the leather being kicked off the ball.

Genge as captain? Looking forward to that one.

[NellyWellyWaspy]

Genge as captain? Looking forward to that one.

I am looking forward to seeing how long Genge can keep his cool with the ref, lol. The lad certainly knows a few expletives, so the commentary team will be kept busy with their apologies for bad language.

[COYW15]

Can't get my head around Umaga getting 50 up already, still feels like he's only just broken into the team!

[wasps]

5 of the starting pack are leaving.

I like Genge.
If he can continue with controlled aggression and handle it as Captain, then I think it will be a huge benefit to him.
I would certainly like to have Genge playing for us

[hookender]

5 of the starting pack are leaving.

I like Genge.
If he can continue with controlled aggression and handle it as Captain, then I think it will be a huge benefit to him.
I would certainly like to have Genge playing for us

+1  And Sinckler on other side.

[wasps]

5 of the starting pack are leaving.

I like Genge.
If he can continue with controlled aggression and handle it as Captain, then I think it will be a huge benefit to him.
I would certainly like to have Genge playing for us

+1  And Sinckler on other side.

Absolutely.
They both get some stick on this board, but that's probably the sign of a good player.

If they can both control their aggression, I'd have both in a heartbeat

[mike909]

Good Wasps selection - though a bit of a hint of "if you can walk unaided".......But that's a solid selection in midfield and pace and experience elsewhere in the backs. Our backrow looks like a selection to push what is a large Tigers backrow - with Eddie Jones' current "young fav" at 6....a potential future star but not imo in the same class (yet) as Brad or Nick Isiekwe from Saints or Tom Willis. Guaranteed hattrick for the lad....Played for England with 5 Prem starts...

Another game that if we gain parity in the collisions, then we ought to have the players to move them around and make dry and warm conditions play to our advantage. Not a game to play on Tigers' terms. Strong bench. Let's hope we don't need them to galvanise the team....

[JonnyD]

Have Simmonds and Spink managed a few weeks without another knock this season - worrying how often the youngsters have these niggles

Big Leicester side there so hope we can run them around

[Neils]

Have Simmonds and Spink managed a few weeks without another knock this season - worrying how often the youngsters have these niggles

Big Leicester side there so hope we can run them around

Possibly an indication they won't make it at Prem level.