Matteo to make first Euro start for Wasps
MATTEO Minozzi, Zach Kibirige and Jacob Umaga will all start for their Wasps European debuts against Agen today.
Wasps have named a strong team for their second round European Challenge Cup match at the Ricoh Arena against Top 14 side Agen.
Dai Young has thrown plenty of resources at the game with Dan Robson, Kieran Brookes and Simon McIntyre all included in the starting line-up.
There’s no place for the likes of Nizaam Carr, Brad Shields and Sione Vailanu, who were all carrying knocks earlier in the week, but Will Porter returns to the bench in anticipation of his first minutes of the season after suffering a hamstring injury in the Premiership 7s.
Academy forward Thibaud Flament is named among the replacements and could come on for his European debut after an impressive start to the 2019/20 campaign.
Italy international Minozzi and Kibirige start in a back-three with Marcus Watson while Umaga is joined by Robson in the half-backs.
Michael Le Bourgeois continues his midfield partnership with Malakai Fekitoa.
The only changes in the pack come in the front row with Simon McIntyre, Tommy Taylor and Kieran Brookes starting, while locks Joe Launchbury and Will Rowlands and back-rowers Ashley Johnson, Jack Willis and Tom Willis maintain their starting places. Director of rugby Young says it’s important Wasps learn the lessons from losing 40-30 away to Bordeaux Bègles last weekend in round one. “There were lots of positives from last week but we let that game slip away from us,” said Young.
“We were hugely disappointed to come away with nothing as it’s certainly a game we could’ve won and we should’ve come away with at least a bonus point.
“We know Agen are going to be a big physical team but it has to be more about us than them. It has to be about what we can bring to the game.
“The support away was phenom
We know Agen are going to be a big physical team but it has to be more about us than them. Dai Young
enal and the home crowd is always great at The Ricoh so they deserve a performance and if we’re going to go anywhere in this competition, we have to win our home games.
“Hopefully we can put some of the frustrations behind us and put in an 80-minute performance with no defensive lapses, far more discipline and take our opportunities.”
Agen make seven changes to the XV which lost to Edinburgh last week in round one. Young French lock/back row Jessy Jegerlehner captains the side at the age of just 22.
The line-up includes lock Pierce Phillips who joined from Worcester Warriors this summer