Wasps injury latest
NO NEW INJURY CONCERNS, REPORTS BLACK-AND-GOLDS’ BOSS
AS WASPS boss Dai Young contemplates his selection options for Sunday’s Aviva Premiership duel with Bath, he has both good news and bad.
Taking a positive view – as the black-and-golds’ boss tends to – the 11-strong injury list which curtailed his options for the defeat at Exeter could remain at last week’s level.
However, with a number of players’ fitness still to be 100 per cent confirmed, this is far from certain, while none of the walking wounded will by Sunday be breaking into a trot and lacing on their boots to take part in their club’s 150th anniversary commemorative game.
According to the medics’ most recent bulletin, flanker Guy Thompson is closest to making a return, with scrum-half Dan Robson not far behind, which with trips to Saracens and Ulster to follow hot-on-the-heels of this weekend’s clash, offers welcome light at the end of the tunnel.
“Guy won’t be back this week as he’s still not running after getting a bad dead leg against Harlequins,” Wasps’ boss confirmed.
“But it’s only a soft-tissue injury and we hope he’ll return next week.
“Dan also won’t be fit to face Bath but, depending on how this week goes, he might have a chance of making it back for Sarries, and will certainly be available for Europe.”
Although Wasps lost three of their front five during the course of their most recent top-flight reverse at Sandy Park, their rugby director is hopeful they will all be available on Sunday.
“Matt Symons’ knee injury isn’t anything serious, and we’re hoping he’ll be fit for the weekend,” Young confirmed.
“It looked like a head injury because of how he walked off, but it was actually a knee and he’s got a chance of playing against Bath.
“Matt Mullan should be OK. He was struggling a bit early in the week, but it was only a dead leg and he should be fine. Marty Moore is also not serious, but has a sore knee and we’re not certain yet if he’ll recover in time.”
The end of Wasps’ 21-month unbeaten Premiership run at the Ricoh against Harlequins proved costly in more ways than one, since star imports Gaby Lovobalavu and Willie le Roux both suffered leg injuries which mean they face a race against time to be involved in the October rounds of European action.
The South African full-back, who strained a hamstring in the closing stages has a more optimistic prognosis than the Fijian centre, whose torn calf is said to necessitate “three or four weeks” on the sidelines.
Wasps have won their last four league meetings with Bath, and will start as favourites to extend this record on Sunday.
Both clubs have a won-two-lost-two record this term after four rounds of action and according to Bath rugby director Todd Blackadder, the Avonsiders have, like Wasps, a full treatment room.
“We’re going to be a little bit light through a few injuries,” he said. “We’ve had a massive amount of injuries, and hopefully some luck will come our way soon.
“Sam Underhill has picked up a concussion after making a really impressive start for us which is a real shame. It also looks like we’ve lost Paul Grant from the weekend with an AC joint problem that will keep him out for a couple of weeks.
“If any club knows about Wasps’ strengths it’s us, as we’ve been on the back of them for the last couple of seasons. Our challenge now is to put them under pressure, and I know they’re a team who, a bit like us, have been a bit inconsistent so far this year.
“We have to stop them playing rugby, because if you let them play they have one of the best attacking brands in the competition.”