Wasps’ double boost to tackle Tigers
JACOB Umaga and Marcus Watson are restored to the Wasps line-up for today’s Gallagher Premiership derby against Leicester Tigers.
Fly-half Umaga has been training with England’s Six Nations squad and full-back Watson has recovered from a sore Achilles.
Malakai Fekitoa (knee) and Juan De Jongh (wrist) are still sidelined, but Zurabi Zhvania (knee) and Brad Shields (foot) return from injury to be named among the replacements for the Round 10 fixture at Welford Road (3pm).
“There’s no doubt this is an eight-pointer this weekend,” said Wasps defence coach Ian Costello. “We’re all scrapping for points but we have to focus on ourselves at this point and see if we can go to Welford Road and pick up another win and build the momentum that we’ve had the last little while.”
Michael Le Bourgeois starts at outside-centre with Malakai Fekitoa (knee) still missing and Juan de Jongh (wrist) sidelined.
The rest of the backline remains unchanged from the win at Worcester three weeks ago while there is just one change to the pack from the side that played that day as Thibaud Flament starts in the second-row in place of James
Gaskell.
The Wasps centurion has been sidelined with a foot injury and will be out for approximately eight to ten weeks, while hooker Tom Cruse misses out through illness and a calf knock.
Zurabi Zhvania (knee) and Brad Shields (foot) both return from injury to be named among the replacements and could make their first appearances since December’s trip to Edinburgh Rugby.
There’s also a place on the bench for 20-year-old centre Sam Spink, who last featured in November when he made his Premiership debut for the Club against Exeter Chiefs.
Thomas Young and Dan Robson co-captain the side once again as the Black and Golds look to continue their recent league form, having produced try-bonus point performances in each of their last three outings.
“If you look back at the last three games, we’ve picked up 12 points,” said Costello said.
“There were three tries against Harlequins and then bonuspoint tries in each of the next three games.
“It comes down to margins in these games and just to come out the right side last time out was important and hopefully this is us turning a corner and kicking on from here.
“Last year it came down to one moment against Leicester and we don’t expect it to be any different this year. It’ll be physical, it’ll be attritional and hopefully a high-quality game too.”
Just to come out the right side last time out was important and hopefully this is us turning a corner and kicking on.
Ian Costello
WASPS: 15 Marcus Watson, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Michael Le Bourgeois, 12 Jimmy Gopperth, 11 Josh Bassett; 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Dan Robson (cc); 1 Simon McIntyre, 2 Tommy Taylor, 3 Kieran Brookes, 4 Will Rowlands, 5 Thibaud Flament, 6 Jack Willis, 7 Thomas Young (cc), 8 Nizaam Carr.
Replacements: 16 Gabriel Oghre, 17 Zurabi Zhvania, 18 Biyi Alo, 19 Brad Shields, 20 Sione Vailanu, 21 Sam Wolstenholme, 22 Billy Searle, 23 Sam Spink.