Teams Up

[Neils]

Blackett has named his side to face Sale Sharks in Premiership Cup Round three on Saturday.

Will Porter gets just reward for some sparkling performances off the bench recently as he starts at scrum-half and captains the side. He forms the half-back partnership with Charlie Atkinson.

Ali Crossdale, Zach Kibirige and Francois Hougaard are part of an all new back three. While Paolo Odogwu moves to outside centre to partner Michael Le Bourgeois in midfield.

In the pack there is a welcome return from injury for Theo Vukasinovic, as he makes his first appearance of the season. Vukasinovic packs down alongside Tim Cardall in the second row. Behind them, Kieran Curran, Ben Morris and Nizaam Carr make up the back row.

In the front row, Michael van Vuuren is sandwiched between Ben Harris and Elliot Millar-Mills.

Amongst the replacements there is a notable return to action for Malakai Fekitoa. Fekitoa is joined on the bench by Dan Frost, Robin Hislop and Pieter Scholtz. They are coupled with Fyn Brown, Sam Wolstenholme and Rob Miller as the other replacements.

Wasps team to face Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 1:00pm)

Wasps (First-team appearances)  

1 Ben Harris (84)

2 Michael van Vuuren (7)

3 Elliot Millar-Mills (

4 Theo Vukasinovic (11)

5 Tim Cardall (44)

6 Kieran Curran (3)

7 Ben Morris (51)

8 Nizaam Carr (71)

9 Will Porter (47)

10 Charlie Atkinson (27)

11 Francois Hougaard (7)

12 Michael Le Bourgeois (70)

13 Paolo Odogwu (31)

14 Zach Kibirige (58)

15 Ali Crossdale (12)

Replacements

16 Dan Frost (11)

17 Robin Hislop (17)

18 Pieter Scholtz (7)

19 Fyn Brown (1)

20 Tom Willis (55)

21 Sam Wolstenholme (28)

22 Rob Miller (132)

23 Malakai Fekitoa (40)

Unavailable (9): Alfie Barbeary, Tom Cruse, Vaea Fifita, James Gaskell, Joe Launchbury, Rodrigo Martinez, Ryan Mills, Tom West, Thomas Young.

[Rossm]

Five Wasps selection headlines from Bobby Bridge

MALA RETURNS: Malakai Fekitoa is back from his rib injury suffered against Exeter Chiefs to man the bench

CENTRE OF ATTENTION: Paolo Odogwu has scored five tries on the wing for Wasps since his return from nine months out, but he will get a go at outside centre against his former club.

THEO FEATURES: As we predicted, Theo Vukasinovic will play his first Wasps game in nearly a year after his return from an Achilles rupture.

BACK THREE: Francois Hougaard, Zach Kibirige and Francois Hougaard have barely featured for Wasps in 2022. But they make up an experienced back three to take on the Sharks. (Presumably he meant to say Ali Crossdale, rather than one of the Francois Hougaards listed )

FYN-TASTIC: The youngest player in the Wasps squad, and the only player selected who is not currently in the senior squad, is back row Fyn Brown. The 19-year-old played 19 minutes earlier in the competition against Leicester Tigers. Matt Everard said this about him in midweek...
Fyn Brown, is a senior academy guy who might be selected this weekend, he is a guy who is so diligent, works extremely hard is so professional who has a point of difference, He hasn't been picked up by England U20s but we think this guy has got something and definitely, first and foremost has got he attitude we like.

What a chance for him coming off the bench.

[Rossm]

SALE SHARKS: 15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Jack Metcalf, 13. Connor Doherty, 12. Sam Hill, 11. Elliott Gourlay, 10, Kieran Wilkinson, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Ross Harrison, 2. Tommy Taylor (capt), 3. Joe Jones, 4. Matt Postlethwaite, 5. Dom Barrow, 6. Ewan Murphy, 7. Curtis Langdon, 8. Rouban Birch.

Replacements: 16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. Cal Ford, 19. Alex Groves, 20. Ben Bamber, 21. Will Cliff, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Joe Bedlow

TT's the skipper!

[Steve from Cov]

An interesting selection giving injury returners and some fringe players an opportunity to get game time and impress.

The likes of Zach, Elliott M-M, Booj and Tim must seize their chance.

[Peej]

Looking forward to Paolo at 13 and seeing Curran get some more game time. Chance for Crossdale too after a pretty disappointing season injury wise.

Did Alfie and Launch both travel to Paris?

[Rossm]

Looking forward to Paolo at 13 and seeing Curran get some more game time. Chance for Crossdale too after a pretty disappointing season injury wise.

Did Alfie and Launch both travel to Paris?

AFAIK, they did. May be travelling reserves.

[JonnyD]

No real second row cover there, although Morris has filled in there before.

Would have hoped Tom Willis might get a rest so maybe he will be held back if he’s not needed and Fyn Brown can get some game time, him and Curran are big lads coming through in the back row. Such a shame that despite his heroics away at Sarries a while back Curran has only 3 appearances (another like Spink and Simonds who has picked up injuries at the wrong time)

[WonkyWasp]

Congratulations to Will Porter as Captain.  Well done Will, good luck, good decisions and your usual speedy self - but most of all .... enjoy it.

[wasps]

Pleased to see Theo back out there.

He was making great strides before his injury, powerful, but mobile too.

Good luck to them all

[Westy68]

That's not a bad team, happy Hougaard is playing on the wing. I hope Ali plays well. Feel sorry for Poalo as he will not get much help from MLB. Would be nice to see Fyn

[Shugs]

Happy with the team. A good mix. If Harris can get through that will be a major plus.

[coddy]

No real second row cover there, although Morris has filled in there before.

Is Fyn Brown not a 2nd row?

Not sure what's happening with Minozzi if he can't get a run out in this game when will he? He's not down as unavailable.

[Heathen]

Am I right that there are no Saffas in the Sale team?

[Neils]

Am I right that there are no Saffas in the Sale team?

Doesn't look like it

[backdoc]

Am I right that there are no Saffas in the Sale team?

Must be their third team then.