Wasps v Bristol

[jimKRFC]

Bristol Bears team to face Wasps at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday, November 24th (1pm KO):

15. Charles Piutau; 14. Luke Morahan, 13. Piers O’Conor, 12. Will Hurrell, 11. Ryan Edwards; 10. Callum Sheedy (co-capt), 9. Andy Uren; 1. Yann Thomas, 2. Shaun Malton, 3. John Afoa, 4. Ed Holmes, 5. Aly Muldowney, 6. Steve Luatua (co-capt), 7. Dan Thomas, 8. Nick Haining.

Replacements: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. Lewis Thiede, 19. Joe Joyce, 20. George Smith, 21. Harry Randall, 22. Ian Madigan, 23. Siale Piutau.

Unavailable: Jake Armstrong (ankle), Sione Faletau (calf), Chris Vui (groin), Joe Latta (eye), John Hawkins (hip), Sam Jeffries (back), James Dun (shoulder), Joe Batley (ankle), Jack Tovey (knee), Mat Protheroe (knee), Luke Daniels (hamstring), Aaron Chapman (hamstring).

International duty: Tusi Pisi, Alapati Leiua, Jack Lam, Jordan Lay, James Lay (Samoa).

Wasps (First-team appearances)
15 Rob Miller (91)
14 Ross Neal (3)
13 Juan de Jongh (32)
12 Michael Le Bourgeois (8)
11 Josh Bassett (86)
10 Lima Sopoaga (8)
9 Craig Hampson (20)
1 Ben Harris (28)
2 Tom Cruse (45)
3 Jake Cooper-Woolley (118)
4 Will Rowlands (57)
5 James Gaskell (97)
6 Ashley Johnson (c) (171)
7 Thomas Young (95)
8 Tom Willis (9)

Replacements
16 Antonio Harris (9)
17 Tom West (9)
18 David Langley (2)
19 Kearnan Myall (123)
20 Ben Morris (6)
21 Will Porter (6)
22 Billy Searle (6)
23 Gaby Lovobalavu (20)

Not too pessimistic after last weeks performance!

[fivepointer]

Wasps form has fallen over a cliff. They look eminently beatable i'd say. If Bris can show the same form from last week they are in with a genuine shout i reckon.

[jimKRFC]

Thacker, Madigan and Siale certainy make the bench stronger, and Muldowny now playing means Vui can come into the back row when he's fit again.

[Beasties]

A quick look at Wasps' injured/unavailable list puts Wasps form into some perspective.

Injured/unavailable Wasps squad
1. Matt Mullan, 2. Tommy Taylor, 3. Kieran Brookes; 4. Joe Launchbury, 5. Nathan Hughes; 6. Brad Shields, 7. Jack Willis, 8. Nizaam Carr; 9. Dan Robson, 10. Jimmy Gopperth; 11. Joe Simpson, 12. Michele Campagnaro, 13. Elliot Daly, 14. Marcus Watson, 15. Willie le Roux

Replacements: 16. Zurabi Zhvania, 17. Simon McIntyre, 18. Will Stuart, 19. Marcus Garratt, 20. Alex Rieder

Joe Simpson's ACL injury just the latest...

[jimKRFC]

Lucky for us then!
8 changes from the PRC side Bris beat 2 weeks back:

15 Rob Miller
14 Ross Neal - Watson
13 Juan de Jongh - Neal
12 Michael Le Bourgeois - Lovobalavu
11 Josh Bassett
10 Lima Sopoaga
9 Craig Hampson - Simpson
1 Ben Harris - McIntyre
2 Tom Cruse
3 Jake Cooper-Woolley
4 Will Rowlands - Matthews
5 James Gaskell
6 Ashley Johnson (c) - Morris
7 Thomas Young
8 Tom Willis

Replacements
16 Antonio Harris - Taylor
17 Tom West - Harris
18 David Langley - Brookes
19 Kearnan Myall - Rowlands
20 Ben Morris - Atkinson
21 Will Porter - Hampson
22 Billy Searle
23 Gaby Lovobalavu – Le Boug

We could really do with the points from a win - definitely need them more than Wasps do.

[Peej]

Wasps are going to lose this one, I think.

[Timbo]

A quick look at Wasps' injured/unavailable list puts Wasps form into some perspective.

Injured/unavailable Wasps squad
1. Matt Mullan, 2. Tommy Taylor, 3. Kieran Brookes; 4. Joe Launchbury, 5. Nathan Hughes; 6. Brad Shields, 7. Jack Willis, 8. Nizaam Carr; 9. Dan Robson, 10. Jimmy Gopperth; 11. Joe Simpson, 12. Michele Campagnaro, 13. Elliot Daly, 14. Marcus Watson, 15. Willie le Roux

Replacements: 16. Zurabi Zhvania, 17. Simon McIntyre, 18. Will Stuart, 19. Marcus Garratt, 20. Alex Rieder

Joe Simpson's ACL injury just the latest...

Wow, when you see it written down like that... That unavailable team would arguably be the best team Wasps have put out all season, bar one or two.

[Raggs]

Wade should also be there really. 21 out of a full 23 without having to push anyone a million miles out of position.

[Which Tyler]

As a Bath fan, you have my sincere sympathies.
The gods be thanked it's not us this year.

[Scrumhead]

A quick look at Wasps' injured/unavailable list puts Wasps form into some perspective.

Injured/unavailable Wasps squad
1. Matt Mullan, 2. Tommy Taylor, 3. Kieran Brookes; 4. Joe Launchbury, 5. Nathan Hughes; 6. Brad Shields, 7. Jack Willis, 8. Nizaam Carr; 9. Dan Robson, 10. Jimmy Gopperth; 11. Joe Simpson, 12. Michele Campagnaro, 13. Elliot Daly, 14. Marcus Watson, 15. Willie le Roux

Replacements: 16. Zurabi Zhvania, 17. Simon McIntyre, 18. Will Stuart, 19. Marcus Garratt, 20. Alex Rieder

Joe Simpson's ACL injury just the latest...

Wow, when you see it written down like that... That unavailable team would arguably be the best team Wasps have put out all season, bar one or two.

True. Robson in particular is a massive loss.

At least they’ll have Shields, Hughes and Daly back next week.

I feel a bit sorry for Dai Young. He’s been getting some stick but there’s not a huge amount he can do about injuries/test call-ups.

[Raggs]

Wlr and campagnaro too.

[Digby]

In any practical sense they've lost Wade too, who was perhaps the most talented back as well as hardest working back

I still think Dai an excellent DoR, but he/they did develop whilst running to keep up and one never had the sense foundations were being put down

[Stom]

That Neal looks a handy player.

[Tigersman]

Would like to see that Thacker interception again. looked miles offside

[Puja]

Would like to see that Thacker interception again. looked miles offside

I think the issue was the ref had called the ball out at the ruck about 3 seconds before it was passed, as it was well past the back foot. So he looked offside, but the ruck had been over for a while and he was entitled to come forward.

Mind, the ref looked shocking in general from the highlights. Thacker intercepted and Bristol go to 10m from the line before being tackled. A ruck is clearly set up, so there is offside, but the ball is passed out for a Bristol player to score only for Thomas Young to tackle him from behind while running back. A clearer yellow card and penalty try you'll never see, but the ref decides to wait until Wasps dive all over the next ruck before giving a penalty and doesn't show a yellow there either.

Puja