Wasps v Bath preview: Home side looking for first win of the new season - Ruck

Wasps v Bath preview: Home side looking for first win of the new season

  • Wasps looking for first win of the season following loss to Harlequins on the opening weekend
  • Bath can make in two from two with a win following last weekends 19-17 victory against Exeter
  • Wasps have lost two of their last three games at the Ricoh Arena
  • Coventry-based outfit welcome back returning England internationals James Haskell and Joe Launchbury into their starting XV

Wasps will be looking for their first win of the new season when they take on Bath this Saturday after losing their opening Aviva Premiership clash away at Harlequins last time out.

Despite tries from Jake Cooper-Woolley and Eliot Daly, they fell to a narrow 26-21 defeat to Quins, who had players such as Mike Brown and Joe Marler retuning early from international duty following England’s premature Rugby World Cup exit.

Bath, on the other hand, continued their superb form from last season with a win over Exeter Chiefs, thanks in no small part to an excellent display from George Ford as the fly-half kicked four penalties and a conversion to give his side a slender 19-17 victory.

But Wasps will be boosted by the fact they welcome back England international pair James Haskell and Joe Launchbury to their starting XV for their first home game of the season.

They also hand a debut to winger Frank Halai, while Lorenzo Cittadini, who has also returned from international duty with Italy, is named among the replacements.

Meanwhile Bath makes just two changes to their starting line-up, with Ollie Devoto coming in at outside centre, while Fijian scrum-half Niko Matawalu, who signed from Glasgow Warriors over the summer before impressing during the Rugby World Cup, makes his first Premiership start.

New signing Rhys Priestland is also in line to make his first appearance from the bench, with fellow Wales international Dom Day also among the replacements following both players’ recent Rugby World Cup campaign.

The only bad news for Bath is that they will be without star centre Jonathan Joseph after he was ruled out for three months following surgery on an injured pectoral. In other news Sam Burgess is rested for this weekend’s match, dropping out of the matchday 23.

Another win for the visitors here against Wasps will ensure they have won their opening two sets of fixture for three consecutive seasons, whilst their only defeat in their last nine Aviva Premiership Rugby matches was to Saracens in last season’s final at Twickenham.

Wasps on the contrary have lost two of their last three encounters at the Ricoh Arena in Aviva Premiership Rugby with their only victory in their last five meetings with Bath in all competitions being a 29-22 win at Adams Park back in October 2014.



PLAYERS TO WATCH
Wasps: James Haskell
during the Aviva Premiership match between Wasps and Leicester Tigers at The Ricoh Arena on May 9, 2015 in Coventry, England.
during the Aviva Premiership match between Wasps and Leicester Tigers at The Ricoh Arena on May 9, 2015 in Coventry, England.

Despite weighing in at well over 18 stone, Haskell is not a typical forward. The 30-year-old Flanker or Number 8, is widely viewed as one of the sport’s fittest forwards, taking pride in endurance over sheer strength. After three years away from the country, Haskell returned to the club which launched his career in 2012 and hasn’t looked back since.


Bath: George Ford

BATH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 27: George Ford of Bath takes a kick at goal during the Aviva Premiership match between Bath Rugby and Exeter Chiefs at Recreation Ground on December 27, 2014 in Bath, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

The England fly half drives his side forward, dictating the tempo of the game and he has the ability to pen the opposition back in their own half with his fantastic kicking game. His ice cool persona on the field ensures his side win games as he is able to convert narrowest of kicks at any point in any game.


Wasps: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Ben Jacobs, 11 Frank Halai, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 George Smith, 6 James Haskell (c), 5 James Gaskell, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 2 Carlo Festuccia, 1 Matt Mullan.
Replacements:  16 Ashley Johnson, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Kearnan Myall, 20 Sam Jones, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Sailosi Tagicakibau.

Bath: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Ollie Devoto, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Anthony Watson, 10 George Ford, 9 Niko Matawalu, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Alafoti Faosiliva, 6 Matt Garvey, 5 Dave Attwood, 4 Stuart Hooper (c), 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Ross Batty, 1 Nick Auterac.
Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Max Lahiff, 18 Dave Wilson, 19 Dom Day, 20 Guy Mercer, 21 Chris Cook, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Matt Banahan.


Date: Saturday, October 24
Venue: Ricoh Arena
Kick-off: 14:00 local (13:00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant Referees: Roger Baileff, Peter Allan
TMO: David Grashoff