ALFIE Barbeary has been handed his first start of the season as Wasps make six changes ahead of their European Rugby Champions Cup match against Munster.
Wasps have lost each of their last five matches in all competitions and suffered an agonising 32-31 defeat to Worcester Warriors last weekend.
And Head Coach Lee Blackett has responded by making six personnel changes and one positional switch ahead of Sunday’s match against Irish province Munster.
Barbeary makes his first start of the season at blindside flanker which means captain Brad Shields shifts to openside flanker and Tom Willis completes the back row at number eight – making his 50th Wasps appearance.
There are two changes in the front row, as props Tom West and Biyi Alo start, with hooker Dan Frost retaining his place in the side on what will be his European Champions Cup debut.
Sebastian de Chaves comes into the second row alongside Elliott Stooke after Vaea Fifita was added to Wasps’ lengthy injury list following last week’s clash at Sixways.
Michael Le Bourgeois returns at outside centre and partners Jimmy Gopperth whilst Sam Wolstenholme comes in at scrum half, to form the half-back partnership with Jacob Umaga.
Marcus Watson, Josh Bassett and Zach Kibirige retain their places in the back three.
Elsewhere, on the bench, Francois Hougaard returns from injury with Will Porter Wasps other backs replacement.
Gabriel Oghre, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Tim Cardall, Nizaam Carr and Thomas Young are the forwards in reserve.
Wasps starting XV
15 Marcus Watson
14 Zach Kibirige
13 Michael Le Bourgeois
12 Jimmy Gopperth
11 Josh Bassett
10 Jacob Umaga
9 Sam Wolstenholme
1 Tom West
2 Dan Frost
3 Biyi Alo
4 Sebastian de Chaves
5 Elliott Stooke
6 Alfie Barbeary
7 Brad Shields (C)
8 Tom Willis
Replacements
16 Gabriel Oghre
17 Robin Hislop
18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
20 Nizaam Carr
21 Thomas Young
22 Will Porter
23 Francois Hougaard
Unavailable through injury (18): Charlie Atkinson, Ali Crossdale, Tom Cruse, Kieran Curran, Malakai Fekitoa, Vaea Fifita, James Gaskell, Ben Harris, Joe Launchbury, Rob Miller, Ryan Mills, Ben Morris, Paolo Odogwu, Dan Robson, Will Simonds, Sam Spink, Theo Vukasinovic, Jack Willis.
Wasps clash with Munster takes place on Sunday, December 12 with kick-off at 3.15pm at the Coventry Building Society Arena.