Five changes too the Wasps starting XV to face Montpellier

Lee Blackett has named his Wasps side to host Montpellier at Ricoh Arena in Champions Cup Round two on Friday.  

There are five changes to the starting 15 that beat Dragons last time out.  

Wasps’ international quartet of Dan Robson, Will Rowlands, Jack Willis and Joe Launchbury are rested. In their places come Will Porter, Tim Cardall, Ben Morris and James Gaskell respectively.    

The only other change sees Ben Harris return from injury to start at loosehead prop.  

Tom Willis also makes his way back from the injury he picked up against Gloucester in November, to take his place amongst the replacements.  

Wasps Head Coach, Lee Blackett, said: “Our international players were keen to play, but they have to have a mandated amount of rest and we thought it was better to give them a well-deserved break, with a busy period to come.  

“We've spoken before about being adaptable. It is key over this period that we keep on being adaptable. We can't use anything as an excuse and we definitely won't be. I am pleased with the result at the weekend, our performance was definitely better than what it had been, we're moving in the right direction. 

“Montpellier are a big physical team that are very confrontational and are going to come at you. They are one of the heaviest sides in the Top 14 and they've got internationals throughout. In their last away game, they went away and beat Clermont. I thought they were outstanding. That was them at their best. It will be about not allowing them to impose their game on us and us trying to impose our game on them.” 

Wasps team to face Montpellier at Ricoh Arena on Friday in Heineken Champions Cup Pool A Round Two (kick-off 8:00pm)  

Wasps (First-team appearances)  

15 Lima Sopoaga (47)  

14 Zach Kibirige (30) 

13 Paolo Odogwu (12) 

12 Jimmy Gopperth (110) 

11 Josh Bassett (131)  

10 Charlie Atkinson (4) 

9 Will Porter (21) 

1 Ben Harris (66) 

2 Tom Cruse (86)  

3 Kieran Brookes (45)  

4 Tim Cardall (23) 

5 James Gaskell (124)  

6 Ben Morris (32) 

7 Thomas Young (124)  

8 Alfie Barbeary (10) 

Replacements 

16 Gabriel Oghre (31) 

17 Tom West (38) 

18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen (25)  

19 Levi Douglas (4) 

20 Tom Willis (24) 

21 Ben Vellacott (10)  

22 Michael Le Bourgeois (39) 

23 Matteo Minozzi (21)