Wasps team to play Saracens

Wasps’ Director of Rugby Dai Young has named his side to take on Saracens at the Ricoh Arena this Sunday, 27 December, kick off 14:00.

In the backline, there are starts for Dan Robson at scrum half and Alapati Leiua at 12, who has made his previous three appearances from the bench this season, since returning from injury.

There is a new-look back row, as George Smith and Nathan Hughes are forced to miss the game through injury. Skipper James Haskell is joined by Thomas Young and Guy Thompson, who both impressed in Monday’s A league win and make their second starts of the season.

Joe Launchbury and James Gaskell form the second row partnership, with Wales international Bradley Davies ready to provide reinforcement from the bench. 

Wasps’ Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “We were delighted with last weekend’s high quality team performance in Bath, when the chips were down in Europe, but now all attention switches back to the Aviva Premiership.

“The challenge gets no easier with Premiership champions Saracens coming to the Ricoh Arena. They have been the form team not only in England, but in Europe so far this season and are certainly setting the standards that we are all chasing.

“It’s a massive challenge for us but we are going into it with a smile on our faces, on the back of a very good performance against Bath. Bath are a quality team, but we know we will have to step up another gear for this game and be at our absolute best to get the result we want.”

Wasps team to play Saracens 

15. Rob Miller
14. Frank Halai
13. Elliot Daly
12. Alapati Leiua
11. Charles Piutau
10. Jimmy Gopperth
9. Dan Robson
1. Matt Mullan
2. Ashley Johnson
3. Lorenzo Cittadini
4. Joe Launchbury
5. James Gaskell
6. James Haskell (c)
7. Thomas Young
8. Guy Thompson

16. Edd Shervington
17. Simon McIntyre
18. Phil Swainston
19. Bradley Davies
20. Sam Jones
21. Joe Simpson
22. Ruaridh Jackson
23. Sailosi Tagicakibau

Unavailable for selection due to injury:
Alex Lozowski, Andrea Masi, Carlo Festuccia, Christian Wade, James Johnston, George Smith, Jake Cooper-Woolley, Nathan Hughes.