WASPS have made wholesale changes ahead of their trip to Saracens this weekend with 12 players coming into the side – including debuts for Sebastian de Chaves and Alex McHenry.
Lee Blackett’s side played out a physical encounter in their 27-23 defeat to Exeter Chiefs last weekend and have responded with a raft of changes for Sunday’s clash in the capital.
An all-new starting front-row has been named with Tom West and Tom Cruse returning from injury with the pair joined by Pieter Scholtz.
Debutant de Chaves is joined in the second-row by Tim Cardall.
Nizaam Carr starts at number eight – his first since returning to the club – with Ben Morris and Thomas Young playing alongside him in the back-row.
Ali Crossdale starts at full-back against his former side with Matteo Minozzi appearing for the first time this season on the left wing whilst Zach Kibirige starts on the right wing.
McHenry is joined in the centres by Will Simonds – who makes his first Premiership start at 12.
Francois Hougaard makes his first Wasps start at half-back and is partnered by Jimmy Gopperth who captains the team at fly-half.
Elsewhere, Will Holling is in line to make his Wasps debut from the bench following his arrival on a short-term loan from Doncaster Knights.
The trio of Elliot Millar-Mills, Tommy Mathews and Luke Mehson are also all in line to make their debuts having been named amongst the replacements.
Wasps starting XV
15 Ali Crossdale
14 Zach Kibirige
13 Alex McHenry
12 Will Simonds
11 Matteo Minozzi
10 Jimmy Gopperth
9 Francois Hougaard
1 Tom West
2 Tom Cruse
3 Pieter Scholtz
4 Sebastian de Chaves
5 Tim Cardall
6 Ben Morris
7 Thomas Young
8 Nizaam Carr
Replacements
16 Will Holling
17 Robin Hislop
18 Elliot Millar-Mills
19 Elliott Stooke
20 Kieran Curran
21 Will Porter
22 Tommy Mathews
23 Luke Mehson
Unavailable for selection: Charlie Atkinson, Alfie Barbeary, Malakai Fekitoa, Dan Frost, James Gaskell, Ben Harris, Joe Launchbury, Michael Le Bourgeois, Rob Miller, Ryan Mills, Paolo Odogwu, Gabriel Oghre, Dan Robson, Sam Spink, Theo Vukasinovic, Jack Willis.
Wasps clash against Saracens kicks-off at 3pm on Sunday, October 24 at the StoneX Stadium.
