WASPS TEAM TO PLAY GLOUCESTER RUGBY

Date: 6 Nov 2015

WASPS TEAM TO PLAY GLOUCESTER RUGBY

Dai Young has named his side to take on Gloucester Rugby at the Ricoh Arena this Sunday (kick off 15:00)

All Blacks’ utility back Charles Piutau is set to make his Wasps’ debut, having arrived at the club last week, and he joins his former Auckland Blues’ team-mate Frank Halai in the backline. Ben Jacobs returns from a knee strain to line up alongside Elliot Daly in Wasps’ midfield.

Ruaridh Jackson makes his first Premiership start of the season at fly half, forming a half back partnership with Joe Simpson.

Up front, Simon McIntyre starts at loosehead, in for Matt Mullan who tweaked a hamstring against Leicester Tigers. Lorenzo Cittadini comes into the front row, alongside Carlo Festuccia. Bradley Davies and Joe Launchbury form the second row partnership while the back row remains unchanged.

Wasps’ Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “We were frustrated with our performance against Leicester Tigers last weekend, although we know Welford Rd is always a difficult place to go and get a win.

“The focus this week will be on looking after the ball better and proving we are a much better team than we showed last week. We’re not a million miles away from everything clicking, it just needs a bit more composure with ball in hand and a little bit more patience.

“Everyone knows how dangerous a team Gloucester are. They have a strong pack and a dangerous attacking back line that can cause even the best defences problems. We will need to be on our mettle again this week and produce a defensive performance with real bite and intensity, like we achieved in our win at the Ricoh against Bath a couple of weeks ago.

“We are all really looking forward to being back at the Ricoh Arena for our second Premiership home game of the season. It’s a fantastic facility, a fantastic sporting arena and we get fantastic support there. We feel we have a responsibility to really stand up and give the crowd what they deserve for the support they have given us, and we will be trying our best to do that again on Sunday.”

Before the match on Remembrance Sunday, players and supporters will have the opportunity to pay their respects to the Armed Forces and to those who have fallen while serving their country. Wasps and Gloucester Rugby will walk out to a military guard of honour at the Ricoh Arena and teams will line up while a bugler plays the Last Post, followed by a minute's silence, then the Reveille.

Following the match, supporters are invited to stay for a fireworks display on the pitch.

WASPS TEAM TO TAKE ON GLOUCESTER RUGBY

15. Charles Piutau

14. Frank Halai

13. Elliot Daly

12. Ben Jacobs

11. Christian Wade

10. Ruaridh Jackson

9. Joe Simpson

1. Simon McIntyre

2. Carlo Festuccia

3. Lorenzo Cittadini

4. Joe Launchbury

5. Bradley Davies

7. George Smith

8. Nathan Hughes

Replacements

16. Ashley Johnson

17. Tom Bristow

18. Jake Cooper-Woolley

19. James Gaskell

20. Guy Thompson

21. Dan Robson

22. Alex Lozowski

23. Sailosi Tagicakibau