Wasps harness Charles and Siale Piutau alongside Elliot Daly as Dai Young attacks champions Saracens
Young throws down gauntlet to Sarries by opting for exciting attacking combination
The return of Elliot Daly to form a new eye-catching centre partnership with Tongan international Siale Piutau is at the heart of an attack-minded Wasps line-up for Sunday’s visit to Saracens.
When the defending Premiership champions ground their way to victory at the Ricoh over Christmas, it was hard to escape the conclusion that Wasps had missed a trick.
Dai Young’s team attempted to limit their error count by taking Saracens’ renowned territorial approach on head-to-head, but were unsuited by this change of tack, and slipped to a 26-16 defeat.
Six weeks on, Young has picked a team to attack the hosts with ball in hand, an approach with which Wasps and their director of rugby are much more comfortable. There is pace and attacking flair at every turn, and even if the black-and-golds are unable to end Sarries' unbeaten home record, they are set to go down with all guns blazing.
Fit-again All Black Charles Piutau, who joins his older brother in a professional team for the first time, along with Christian Wade and Josh Bassett represents the quickest back three combination available to Young. Saracens will kick plenty of ball to this trio, and they certainly have the firepower to run it back.
The selection of the attack-minded Ruaridh Jackson, who has been released by Scotland, over Jimmy Gopperth at fly half is another aggressive move, while the back row combination also suggests Wasps intend to play with plenty of width.
George Smith returns from injury to captain the side from the open side, and he is joined on the flank by a second specialist No.7, Thomas Young, rather than the bulkier Alex Rieder.
Similarly at hooker, Young has opted for his most mobile option, Ashley Johnson, who is backed-up by Carlo Festuccia, whose nasty facial injury has now recovered.
The absence of England’s Joe Launchbury, Wales’ Brad Davies and a long-term injury to James Gaskell has seen second row Will Rowlands recalled from his loan spell at Jersey to sit on the bench.
Young acknowledged Saracens’ outstanding start to the campaign, which has seen them beaten only once in 17 outings, and challenged his team to rise to the occasion.
“We just got over the line last weekend against Newcastle,” he said, “and know we will need to up our game this Saturday against the league leaders.
“Saracens are the form team not only in England but also in Europe. They are really accurate and efficient in everything they do and excel at pressurising the opposition into making mistakes. It’s essential to match their accuracy and minimise errors.
“It doesn’t come any harder in the Aviva Premiership than playing at the home of the champions, but we know on our day we can compete with the very best. This is the kind of challenge professional sportsmen crave and it’s up to us to prepare well physically and mentally to rise to that challenge.”
Although Saracens are missing seven England players plus Duncan Taylor, who starts in the centre for Scotland tomorrow, they still field a formidable combination with a strong South African flavour.
Hooker Schalk Brits and tight head Petrus Du Plessis have performed well so far this season, while club captain Alistair Hargreaves returns in the second row alongside Barkers Butts-product Jim Hamilton after a lengthy injury absence.
Namibian flanker Jacques Burger is a ferocious tackler, while veteran fly half Charlie Hodgson will pull the strings inside England centre Brad Barritt and Argentinian Marcelo Bosch starts at full back.
Saracens: Marcelo Bosch; Mike Ellery, Nick Tompkins, Brad Barritt, Chris Wyles; Charlie Hodgson, Ben Spencer; Richard Barrington, Schalk Brits, Petrus Du Plessis; Jim Hamilton, Alistair Hargreaves; Michael Rhodes, Jacques Burger, Samu Vunisa.
Replacements: Jared Saunders, Rhys Gill, Titi Lamositele, Hayden Smith, Will Fraser, Richard Wigglesworth, Nils Mordt, Ben Ransom
Wasps: Charles Piutau; Christian Wade, Elliot Daly, Siale Piutau, Josh Bassett; Ruaridh Jackson, Dan Robson; Simon McIntyre, Ashley Johnson, Jake Cooper-Woolley; James Cannon, Kearnan Myall; Thomas Young, George Smith, Nathan Hughes.
Replacements: Carlo Festuccia, Matt Mullan, Phil Swainston, Will Rowlands, Alex Rieder, Jamie Stevenson, Jimmy Gopperth, Rob Miller.
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