Rugby Dai hoping for a bit of Southern comfort in home clash

WASPS boss Dai Young seems likely to throw both recent Southern Hemisphere loan signings into his forward mix for Newcastle’s visit to the Ricoh Arena tomorrow.

South African back-rower Nizaam Carr, who made an impressive debut in the Anglo-Welsh Cup at Ospreys last weekend, could start at No.8.

And Australian international hooker Nathan Charles, who arrived in Coventry last week will probably be seen from the bench as cover for Ashley Johnson.

Carr’s powerful ball-carrying and combative defence made an impressively smooth transition from the Currie Cup final to a drizzly night in Swansea.

Nonetheless, his new boss Dai Young must make a tight selection call between the 26-year-old Stormer and Guy Thompson, who was manof-the-match last time out during Wasps impressive win at Northampton. “Guy did a great job for us at Northampton,” Young acknowledged. “I thought he carried really well, especially in the wide channels, but he hasn’t trained much since because he strained his thigh again. “But he should be available by Saturday, providing he doesn’t get any reaction to it now he’s back in training, and we know what Guy can do. “Nizaam has come over because we thought we’d lose Nathan Hughes, Thomas Young and James Haskell to the autumn internationals. “We felt we would be on the bones, but unfortunately Hask and Thomas haven’t gone which puts us in a far stronger position, and with Nizaam coming in we now have real options in the back row.”

After claiming a first top flight win in five games at Franklin’s Gardens prior to the Anglo-Welsh Cup break, Wasps’ rugby director sees the next three games, against the Falcons, London Irish and Leicester, as pivotal to the black-and-gold season.

“We got the monkey off our back with a really good win at Northampton,” he said.

“We’ve stopped the slide and now we’ve got to make sure we’ve turned the ship round and that we kick on.

“This is going to be a massive block of games for us as we’ve put ourselves back in the mix, but can’t afford to lose too many more.

“If we do, we’re putting a lot of pressure on ourselves at the business end of the season, so we’ve got to collect as many points as we can in this block and make sure we’re still in the mix.” WASPS have confirmed that hooker Tom Cruse has extended his Ricoh Arena deal.

This comes hot on the heels of the announcement that another front-row favourite, Ashley Johnson, will also be remaining in Coventry after his current contract ends.

Like his South African teammate, Cruse is a converted flanker who combines pace around the field and high defensive workrate with more recently-acquired set-piece skills.

The 28-year-old arrived at the club from London Irish at the start of last season, to link back up with his former Rotherham Titans head coach Lee Blackett. Since then he has made 18 appearances and scored two tries.

Rugby director Dai Young said he is very pleased to retain the services of a player who is now a key member of his squad.

“Tom came here with a lot of promise, we’d seen what he’d done at Rotherham and London Irish and we felt he could kick on,” he said.

“Since then, he’s done himself justice every time he’s had an opportunity.

“He fits into our attacking style, has great hands, great game awareness and although he’s not a very big guy, he plays well above his weight. He’s very happy to chuck his weight into big defence and set-piece-wise he’s really good.”

Cruse needed no second invitation to extend his stay in Warwickshire, where he says he is very happy.

“When I was offered the option to extend my contract here at Wasps, it was an easy decision to make,” he said.

“My family and I have settled in really well since arriving a couple of seasons ago and been welcomed brilliantly by everyone at the club.

“I’m loving playing alongside the quality players we have and feel my game is developing well.

“It’s exciting to see the potential of the squad and we are all working hard to improve.”

Cruse is currently suffering with a broken thumb which is likely to keep him out of action for another month or so.

With England squad No.2 Tommy Taylor also unlikely to return until late January, Wasps last week drafted in 28-year-old Australian international Nathan Charles as short-term cover.

(James) Haskell and Thomas (Young) haven’t gone which puts us in a far stronger position, and with Nizaam we now have real options in the back row.