Injury time may be over at last for Wasps boss
WASPS boss Dai Young could be facing an unusual prospect when the Gallagher Premiership reconvenes after a two-week break.
That is because the Welshman could be selecting from a near fullstrength squad with many players who are currently on the treatment table, likely to be off it in time for the trip to Leicester Tigers on Saturday, February 15.
After seeing his side claim a 30-26 win over Worcester Warriors in round nine, the director of rugby gave an update on the condition of his squad.
Second row Joe Launchbury and centre Malakai Fekitoa both suffered knee injuries in the 27-0 home defeat to Bordeaux-Begles. National media outlets have subsequently reported that Launchbury is ‘ruled out’ of England’s Six
Nations opener in Paris on Sunday, February 2.
“If Joe was available for us, which he’s not, he’s away on England camp, he wouldn’t have been able to play [against Worcester],” said Young. “Same as Malakai. But [there’s] nothing structurally [wrong]. Hopefully Joe will be in the mix for selection for international duty next week. We’ve got two weeks without a game now so we’re pretty confident Malakai will be back in the mix by that time.
“We don’t normally get much things going our way. Once you hear that horrible scan word, things seem to go against us, but on this occasion it’s looking quite positive.”
Winger Marcus Watson has missed Wasps’ last two games with an Achiiles tendon complaint while Brad Shields’ foot injury has sidelined the flanker for seven matches. Both were present in Wasps’ warm-up at the weekend.
“It was great to see them both back in training on Thursday,” Young explained. “I think when we come back from two weeks without a game we’re going to be picking from not far off a full-strength squad, which is unusual. There are two weeks to go though so there are lots of things that can happen.”
However there was one setback on Saturday as hooker Tommy Taylor was substituted at Sixways.
Young said: “Tommy rolled his ankle. He will have a scan and we will know more then.”
In his media session ahead of the Worcester match, Young said that loose-head prop Zurabi Zhvania was ‘edging’ nearer to a return to training after missing eight games with a knee injury.
Hooker Tom Cruse was given a two-week estimate for shaking off his knee blow suffered against Agen, which should see him in contention for the trip to Welford Road.
I took a break, but soon realised
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