32 - 17HT 13 - 17

Ricoh Arena
Att TBC
Fri 21 Aug 20, 7:45pm

Youth given chance to shine at Wasps

Warriors will give Gallagher Premiership debuts to three current or recent members of the Three Pears Warriors Academy against Wasps at the Ricoh Arena on Friday (kick-off 7.45pm).

Wing Noah Heward, who is still on the Senior Academy, will have his first taste of senior rugby with scrum-half Gareth Simpson and lock James Scott, who recently graduated to the senior squad at Sixways, also making their competition debuts.

There are four more potential competition debutants among the replacements in former Oxford University tighthead prop Joe Morris, lock Justin Clegg, former Saracens centre Oli Morris – another current Senior Academy member – and back-row forward Caleb Montgomery in line for match action.

Montgomery made two appearances in the Premiership Rugby Cup at the start of the season but has not played since October because of a hand injury.

A much-changed squad includes 14 players who have either graduated from the Three Pears Warriors Academy or who are currently on the programme.

Centre Will Butler, one of those Academy graduates, will captain Warriors in the absence of injured Team Captain Matt Moulds and Club Captain Ted Hill, who played the full 80 minutes against Gloucester last Saturday. Butler, the new Assistant Club Captain, will make the third Premiership appearance of his career but first in two years.

None of the side who started against Gloucester will be involved against Wasps but Scotland internationals Duncan Weir and Cornell du Preez, South Africa centre Francois Venter, hooker Beck Cutting, tighthead prop Richard Palframan and back-row forward GJ van Velze who came off the bench at the weekend, all start.

Chris Pennell replaces the suspended Melani Nanai at full-back and loosehead prop Callum Black returns to action for the first time since he sustained a foot injury at Saracens in early January.

Centre Ryan Mills will make his first start for Wasps having joined them from Warriors last month.

Warriors | 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Noah Heward, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Will Butler (C), 11 Nick David, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Gareth Simpson, 1 Callum Black, 2 Beck Cutting, 3 Richard Palframan, 4 James Scott, 5 Andrew Kitchener, 6 GJ van Velze, 7 Tom Dodd, 8 Cornell du Preez.

Replacements | 16 Isaac Miller, 17 Lewis Holsey, 18 Joe Morris, 19 Justin Clegg, 20 Caleb Montgomery, 21 Jono Kitto, 22 Jamie Shillcock, 23 Oli Morris.

Unavailable: Joe Batley, Conor Carey, Ed Fidow, Alex Hearle, Perry Humphreys, Marco Mama, Matt  Moulds, Melani Nanai, Kai Owen.

Wasps | 15 Rob Miller, 14 Paolo Odogwu, 13 Michael Le Bourgeois, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Marcus Watson, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Ben Vellacott, 1 Simon McIntyre, 2 Tom Cruse 3 Biyi Alo, 4 Tim Cardall, 5 James Gaskell (C), 6 Ben Morris, 7 Gabriel Oghre, 8 Tom Willis.

Replacements | 16 Alfie Barbeary, 17 Tom West, 18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 19 Theo Vukasinovic, 20 Sione Vailanu, 21 Sam Wolstenholme, 22 Jacob Umaga, 23 Matteo Minozzi.

Competition: Gallagher Premiership Rugby
Venue: Ricoh Arena
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Game Type: Away
Fixture Round: 15
Attendance:
No. Name T C D P
15 Rob Miller 3C 2P
14 Paolo Odogwu
13 Mike le Bourgeois
12 Ryan Mills
11 Marcus Watson
10 Lima Sopoaga
9 Ben Vellacott
1 Simon McIntyre
2 Tom Cruse 1T
3 Biyi Alo
4 Tim Cardall
5 James Gaskell
6 Ben Morris
7 Gabriel Oghre 1T
8 Tom Willis 1T
Replacements
16 Alfie Barbeary 1T
17 Tom West
18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen
19 Theo Vukasinovic
20 Sione Vailanu
21 Sam Wolstenholme
22 Jacob Umaga
23 Matteo Minozzi

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