Wasps vs L.Irish Anglo Welsh LV= Cup preview

Wasps have named a team mixed with youth and experience for their Anglo Welsh LV= Cup clash against London Irish at Adams Park on Sunday.

Wasps have been boosted by the arrival of Chris Bell in the centres and Guy Thompson at number eight. Edd Shervington also gets a start this weekend, having made his return from injury last weekend.

On the bench there are a host of familiar names ready to make their impact. Ashley Johnson once again covers the hooker spot and he is joined by John Yapp, Jake Cooper-Woolley, James Gaskell, Nathan Hughes, Joe Simpson, Elliot Daly and Sailosi Tagicakibau, who all take bench spots.

Ahead of the game, Dai Young said, “We were disappointed not to come away from the AJ Bell Stadium with a win last weekend and this Sunday’s game gives us a great opportunity to go back into the next block of Premiership fixtures with a bit of a spring in our step.

“We have made a select few changes to last weekend’s starting side but the bench has been significantly bolstered, with a number of regular starters ready to make themselves known as replacements.”

Meanwhile, senior academy player Ollie Curry has been handed his senior starting debut for London Irish this weekend when the squad travel to Adams Park.

Curry, who came off the bench for his debut last weekend, is joined by Conor Gilsenan and Jimmy Stevens in the back row.

The second row partnership of Dave Lyons and Kieran Low remains and Matt Parr, Mike Mayhew and Leo Halavatau pack down in the front row.

Darren Allinson starts at scrum-half with Myles Dorrian at ten in an unchanged half-back partnership. Eoin Griffin is joined by Guy Armitage in the centre with Tom Fowlie and Cam Cowell on the wings.

Cam Cowell is the second senior Academy player in the starting line-up, keeping his shirt following an impressive debut last week. Topsy Ojo captains the side from full-back.

Tom Smallbone, Ross Neal and Connor Murphy from the senior Academy are on the bench, hoping to build on their senior debuts last week, alongside fellow senior academy member Theo Vukasinovic. Toby Salmon, who joins on a short-term loan, is also among the replacements.

London Irish Director of Rugby Brian Smith said: “Sunday’s game with Wasps offers another chance to rotate our squad and continue to develop our Academy players and coaches. I thought all the Academy players performed well last weekend and they will get another chance to impress on Sunday.

“Finally we would like to wish our five international players Dan, Ofisa, Jebb, Geoff and Blair the best of luck for their respective nations over the weekend.”

Match : Wasps v London Irish
Date : Sunday 9 November
Venue : Adams Park
Kick Off : 14:00 GMT
Live on: N/A
Match Officials
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant referees: Paul Burton (England), Paul Dix (England)
Timekeeper: Laurie Bryant (England)
Assessor: Gary Welsh (England)

Teams

Wasps

15 Piers O’Conor, 14 Will Helu, 13 Ben Jacobs, 12 Chris Bell (c), 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Alex Lozowski, 9 Tom Bliss, 8 Guy Thompson, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Buster Lawrence, 5 Will Rowlands, 4 James Cannon, 3 Phil Swainston, 2 Edd Shervington, 1 Simon McIntyre

Replacements: 16 Ashley Johnson, 17 John Yapp, 18 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 19 James Gaskell, 20 Nathan Hughes, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 Elliot Daly, 23 Sailosi Tagicakibau

London Irish

15 Topsy Ojo (c), 14 Cameron Cowell, 13 Guy