Wasps team to face London Irish on Saturday

Lee Blackett has named his Wasps side to travel to The Brentford Community Stadium and take on London Irish in the penultimate round of the Gallagher Premiership on Saturday.  

There are three changes to the starting line-up that played Northampton Saints last time out.  

Kieran Brookes returns from injury to start at tighthead, alongside front row pair Tom West and Gabriel Oghre.  

Marcus Watson starts his first game of the season on the wing, as he replaces the injured Zach Kibirige. Watson is joined in the back three by fellow winger Josh Bassett and full-back Charlie Atkinson.  

The only other change to the backline sees Juan de Jongh come in for the injured Paolo Odogwu. Michael Le Bourgeois is inside him at 12, with Malakai Fekitoa still unavailable with a calf injury.  

Brad Shields captains the side at blindside flanker, Tom Willis starts at number eight and Thomas Young completes the unchanged back row at openside flanker.  

The second-row pairing of James Gaskell and Will Rowlands and the half-back partnership of Dan Robson and Jacob Umaga are also unchanged.  

There are no changes amongst the replacements; Tom Cruse, Simon McIntyre, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Tim Cardall, Sione Vailanu, Ben Vellacott, Jimmy Gopperth and Rob Miller are all named in reserve.  

Wasps team to face London Irish at The Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday in Gallagher Premiership Round 21 (kick-off 4:30pm)  

Wasps (First-team appearances)  

15 Charlie Atkinson (16) 

14 Marcus Watson (50) 

13 Juan de Jongh (65) 

12 Michael Le Bourgeois (57)  

11 Josh Bassett (148)  

10 Jacob Umaga (48) 

9 Dan Robson (135) 

1 Tom West (53) 

2 Gabriel Oghre (44) 

3 Kieran Brookes (57) 

4 Will Rowlands (111) 

5 James Gaskell (139) 

6 Brad Shields (51) (c) 

7 Thomas Young (139) 

8 Tom Willis (39)  

Replacements 

16 Tom Cruse (97)  

17 Simon McIntyre (182) 

18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen (43) 

19 Tim Cardall (28) 

20 Sione Vailanu (30) 

21 Ben Vellacott (19) 

22 Jimmy Gopperth (126)  

23 Rob Miller (124) 

Unavailable due to injury: Alfie Barbeary (Hamstring), Malakai Fekitoa (Calf), Lasha Jaiani (Pectoral), Zach Kibirige (Ankle), Joe Launchbury (ACL), Ryan Mills (Foot), Matteo Minozzi (Eye), Paolo Odogwu (ACL), Will Simonds (Groin), Sam Spink (Groin), Theo Vukasinovic (Achilles), Jack Willis (PCL/MCL).