It’s win or bust for us, says Wasps boss Young
WASPS’ rugby director Dai Young has urged his team to keep their European destiny within their own hands against Harlequins today.
After a loss to Ulster last week, Wasps need to win to keep alive any realistic chances of qualifying for the knock-out stages.
Young said: “We’re all really looking forward to returning to the Ricoh Arena to play in front of our Wasps fans after a couple of games on the road.
“This is a massive game for both clubs. It’s two teams going into the weekend knowing how important this match is in the context of Europe.
“If we don’t get the result we want, realistically we will need to do something pretty special in the last four games to qualify.
“It would be possible, but it would be incredibly difficult and we would have to rely on other results going our way.”
Wasps, who have not won since early September, bring in Springbok international Juan de Jongh to the midfield.
Young added: “We want to get back to winning ways as quickly as possible and we’ll have to start here.”
In the front row, Ashley Johnson starts at hooker while Antonio TJ Harris could make his Wasps debut off the bench.
Guy Thompson is named on the bench after recovering from injury.
Harlequins make one change from the side that lost to La Rochelle last week, with Joe Gray returning from injury to start at hooker.
David Ward will make the move to openside flanker.
Quins’ rugby director John Kingston said: “The defeat at La Rochelle in the opening round has only magnified the importance of the game at Wasps this weekend.
“We secured a victory at the Ricoh Arena last month, however this match will be a totally different challenge as both teams will be desperate to get their European campaigns up and running.
“Our preparation this week has been excellent though and we are looking forward to what will be an exciting European encounter.”