WASPS TEAM FOR RICOH RETURN AGAINST BATH

WASPS TEAM FOR RICOH RETURN AGAINST BATH

Director of Rugby Dai Young has named his side to face Bath in Round 2 of the Aviva Premiership, at the Ricoh Arena this Saturday, kick off 2pm.

Wasps welcome back returning England internationals James Haskell and Joe Launchbury into the starting line-up, with Lorenzo Cittadini, who returns from Italy duty, named among the replacements.

Carlo Festuccia starts at hooker, Ben Jacobs at inside centre and former Auckland Blues winger, Frank Halai, is set to make his Wasps’ debut on the wing after joining the club this week.

Ahead of the game, Dai Young said: “It was a frustrating performance against Harlequins at The Stoop last Friday, but we’ve had a real boost this week having most of our internationals back and they add some extra experience to the group.

“Bath will also have the majority of their internationals back for this match and it doesn’t get much tougher in the league than facing Bath, who deservedly reached the Premiership Final last season.

“We managed to turn the Ricoh into a bit of a fortress towards the end of last season, and we know we need to start in the same vein this time, with the Aviva Premiership more competitive than ever.”

WASPS’ SQUAD TO PLAY BATH AT THE RICOH ARENA ON SATURDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2015, 2PM KO

15. Rob Miller

14. Christian Wade

13. Elliot Daly

12. Ben Jacobs

11. Frank Halai

10. Jimmy Gopperth

9. Joe Simpson

1. Matt Mullan

2. Carlo Festuccia

3. Jake Cooper-Woolley

4. Joe Launchbury

5. James Gaskell

6. James Haskell (c)

7. George Smith

8. Nathan Hughes

16. Ashley Johnson

17. Simon McIntyre

18. Lorenzo Cittadini

19. Kearnan Myall

20. Sam Jones

21. Dan Robson

22. Ruaridh Jackson

23. Sailosi Tagicakibau