scrum time

By Wasp12
February 11 2014

  After a heartbreaking loss last weekend at the hands of Harlequins, the men in black and Gold will be looking to get back to winning ways on Saturday against local rivals London Irish. Wasps will be looking to do the triple over Irish this season after defeating the Reading based outfit both in the premiership and LV cup recently.  

Previous meetings between these two teams have been fairly close with wasps coming out tops in two of the last three games. London Irish will be coming to Adams park full of confidence after they were only the 2nd team this season to defeat Saracens at Allianz Park. Director of Rugby Brian Smith said "it was the best performance of the season to date".

Expect Dai Young to name an unchanged starting lineup following the defeat to Harlequins and he will be hoping his men in black a gold will avenge last weekends defeat and show the wasps faithful that they are still in with a chance of a top 6 finish or maybe top 4 if all goes to plan!
In the front row Engalnd prop Mullan will pack down alongside ex Cardiff university captain Cooper-Woolley and at Hooker 51 capped Italy international Carlo Festuccia.

In the engine room Palmer will pack down alongside Myall and they will be looking to control the lineouts and disrupt the sometimes rusty Irish line out.
In the back row expect a big game from South African born Johson who very rarely has two bad games in a row let alone one! Haskell will look to continue his fine form after putting in a massive 15 tackles in last weekends game! The ever impressive Sam Jones will pack down at 8 once again and will look to put a marker down for Hughes returning back from injury.

At halfbacks 25 year old Simpson will aim to get clean quick ball to the always improving Carlisle. Expect Carlisle to start and Goode to come on at around 60 minutes to control the game and play the corners. Carlisle will look to get the exciting back line moving and picking the gaps in Irish's defence when they are there.

Captain Bell will be partnered in the centres by hard hitting Masi and the latter will be hoping for a big game to boost his chances of returning to international rugby for Italy. In the back 3 Tongan winger Helu will be partnered by Short who will be making his first start at Adams park. Irish will need to keep a close eye on Daly who will make up the fast and exciting back 3. His long boot and arcing runs could prove vital if wasps are going to win this one!

The Irish team for the visit to Adams Park will be mostly unchanged with only John Yapp replacing Matt Parr in the front row. The Welsh loosehead Yapp will pack down alongside the experienced Paice and 26 year old Jamie Hagan.In the engine room former wasp Skivington will partner youthful Rouse, who will be looking to impress once again. The back row will once again be the deciding factor in the game and if Wasps can stop Treviranus and his team mates getting over the gain line then expect a Wasps win. Samoan Treviranus will be joined by Low and ex Worcester player Cowan.

The Irish half backs will be looking to distribute well and get the ball away fast, these positions will be occupied by ex Munster man O'Leary and 27 year old Shane Geraghty at scrum half and fly half respectively. The centre paring of Sheridan and Mulchrone will bring power and pace to the game Masi and Bell will need to be on there game to stop these two powerful and effective men. Fenby and 22 year old Lewington will be the wing men for Irish and will be joined by the exciting but sometimes troublesome fullback O'Connor.

Key battles:
Jones v Treviranus - two contrasting players with the Samoan bringing raw power and Wasps's 8 Jones bringing pace and great running lines.
Bell v Sheridan - Bell will need to tackle his heart out and will need to lead the defensive pattern to stop the 6ft 4" and 108kg centre Sheridan from getting over the game line.
Daly v O'Connor - Possible the most mouthwatering of head to heads of the whole season this will bring pace,dazzling footwork and they will cause havoc if you kick loosely to them.

If Wasps can get the upper hand in the set piece and starve O'Connor of the ball expect a comfortable win for the men in black and gold!
COYW!!