Robson expecting more fireworks in repeat of last year’s final

DAN Robson says revenge is in the air as two of England’s most entertaining sides reprise last season’s Premiership final with vital league points at stake.

Exeter clinched a dramatic 23-20 extra-time victory over Wasps last May, and then repeated the dose at Sandy Park in September with a comfortable 31-17 win. Scrum-half Robson,

right, said: “It’s a big clash and our games against Exeter always seem to produce some fireworks. I’m expecting nothing less today, especially after their defeat to Worcester last week, and they’ll want to get back to winning ways.

“There a degree of revenge involved but no matter who we were playing, we’d want to maintain our momentum after beating Harlequins. It’s important we keep that good form going now so we can push up the table and try to get into the top two.”

England hopeful Robson starts in a Wasps back-line that shows two changes, with fit again Jimmy Gopperth replacing Kyle Eastmond and Marcus Watson coming in for Christian Wade, who drops to an impactful looking bench.

The only forward change sees Marty Moore swap with Jake Cooper-Woolley, while Will Rowlands and Alex Rieder are among the replacements after returning from injury. Gopperth’s return is well timed in view of Eastmond’s six-week ban – the result of his early sending off at Harlequins which sparked an impressive reaction. “Everyone was in good spirits after Quins,” Robson said. “With Kyle off and down to 14-men, we spoke at half-time about going out and showing some bottle. We put paid to the defensive hoodoo that’s been put on us and it was one of the better results.

“Danny Cipriani controlled the game brilliantly and it’s great having Jimmy back from injury now – he provides different kicking options and is a class player.”

Robson misses out on a clash with Wallabies scrumhalf Nic White, who is on paternity leave.

Will Chudley starts in place of White for Chiefs, while the only other backline change sees Ollie Devoto at outside-centre for Ian Whitten.

The pack receives greater surgery with Test props Alec Hepburn and Tom Francis returning to the front row and Julian Salvi in at No.7.

Fresh from England duty, Hepburn said: “Nobody at Exeter is happy losing a game of scrabble, let alone a match against Worcester, so we’ll look to see what we can do differently and we need to put in a good performance.”