Wasps vs Exeter

[Puja]

Wasps team to play Exeter Chiefs

Willie Le Roux
Marcus Watson
Juan De Jongh
Jimmy Gopperth
Josh Bassett
Danny Cipriani
Dan Robson
Simon McIntyre
Tom Cruse
Marty Moore
James Gaskell ©
Kearnan Myall
Jack Willis
Thomas Young
Guy Thompson

Replacements:

Ashley Johnson
Matt Mullan
Jake Cooper-Woolley
Will Rowlands
Alex Rieder
Joe Simpson
Gaby Lovobalavu
Christian Wade


15 Lachie Turner
14 Santiago Cordero
13 Ollie Devoto
12 Sam Hill
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Gareth Steenson (capt)
9 Will Chudley
1 Alec Hepburn
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie
3 Tomas Francis
4 Mitch Lees
5 Jonny Hill
6 Dave Ewers
7 Julian Salvi
8 Don Armand

16 Jack Innard
17 Ben Moon
18 Greg Holmes
19 Sam Skinner
20 Thomas Waldrom
21 Stu Townsend
22 Joe Simmonds
23 Ian Whitten

[fivepointer]

My favourite Premiership fixture. These 2 sides always seem to serve up a cracking game. Looking forward to it.

[Banquo]

be great to see Willis up against the Chiefs back row

[TheNomad]

be great to see Willis up against the Chiefs back row

He is officially the Board darling at the moment isn’t he?

[Banquo]

be great to see Willis up against the Chiefs back row

He is officially the Board darling at the moment isn’t he?

because he's an exciting talent

[Mellsblue]

be great to see Willis up against the Chiefs back row

He is officially the Board darling at the moment isn’t he?

[Oakboy]

The two backrows make such an interesting contrast in terms of age/experience/physicality/technique. It's hard not to like the gritty combo of Ewers/Salvi/Armand just as it is hard not to be excited by Willis/Young/Thomson. I've not seen much of Armand at 8 - only part-game cameos. Is that a realistic future for him with Simmonds at 7?

[Raggs]

Juan de Jongh is out, Lovobalavu starts, Macken onto the bench. That's a big hit to our defence, but gives us a power option in the backline, problem is, he's not quite on the same wavelength as the others yet, so we probably won't see the best of him.

[twitchy]

How did they miss that knock on.

[I R Geech]

Austin Healey really doesn't like Wasps at all does he.

[Puja]

How did they miss that knock on.

From the back of the scrum? I have to say it looked backwards to me. He scoops it back with his hand, knees it forward, scoops it back again and the ball spills out the back.

Puja

[morepork]

Jesus the passes from the Wasps halfback look like a water-filled balloon.

[Spiffy]

Austin Healey really doesn't like Wasps at all does he.

He's balanced up by Dalaglio, who loves them to bits.

[Raggs]

Yeah between healey and lol there's just about balance. Would rather they'd use another pair.

Hope Robson is ok.

[Peej]

That's desperately unlucky for Rieder

[Digby]

be great to see Willis up against the Chiefs back row

He is officially the Board darling at the moment isn’t he?

Liquorice allsort?

[Raggs]

Ffs. No idea what we're going to do for backrow next week.

[p/d]

Great decision replacing LCD, line out has been s dream since

[fivepointer]

Exe paid the price for lack of accuracy and failure to make the most of opportunities in the Wasps 22. Great defensive shift from Wasps it has to be said. Cips pure class.
LCD very good again, subbed too early for me.
Can BT sport please release "Look at that" Dallaglio from his contract. Jeez the guy is worse than Stuart Barnes.

[Oakboy]

Exe paid the price for lack of accuracy and failure to make the most of opportunities in the Wasps 22. Great defensive shift from Wasps it has to be said. Cips pure class.
LCD very good again, subbed too early for me.
Can BT sport please release "Look at that" Dallaglio from his contract. Jeez the guy is worse than Stuart Barnes.

English rugby will be a damned sight poorer if Cipriani goes abroad. Two vital tackles were worth a mention along with all his attacking class. I'd still pick him for England ahead of Ford or Farrell.

[Digby]

I'd still pick him for England ahead of Ford or Farrell.

I wouldn't. I would have done before we started picking Ford and Farrell back under Burt, but now there are so many caps on Ford and the flawless one I don't see an advantage in swapping them out for a test novice. It's a shame, and a waste of the most talented English player I've ever seen, but absent of injuries it's a done deal for me

[fivepointer]

I'd still pick him for England ahead of Ford or Farrell.

I wouldn't. I would have done before we started picking Ford and Farrell back under Burt, but now there are so many caps on Ford and the flawless one I don't see an advantage in swapping them out for a test novice. It's a shame, and a waste of the most talented English player I've ever seen, but absent of injuries it's a done deal for me

I agree. It has been a great waste and he is a unique talent, but things have moved on now.

From the earlier interview with Dai I sense that Wasps didnt try too hard to keep him.

[Spiffy]

Both Chudley and Robson looking better SHs than Care and Wiggy.
Is Thomas Young the best 7 in the PL?

[Raggs]

Supposedly Eddie said at a quins q&a that he thought Robson was too small for international duty. I have to assume he was taking the Michael though.

[Oakboy]

I'd still pick him for England ahead of Ford or Farrell.

I wouldn't. I would have done before we started picking Ford and Farrell back under Burt, but now there are so many caps on Ford and the flawless one I don't see an advantage in swapping them out for a test novice. It's a shame, and a waste of the most talented English player I've ever seen, but absent of injuries it's a done deal for me

Test novice?