Wasps test their wings up north
Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:38
London Wasps are looking to fine-tune their game after announcing a strong side to face Edinburgh in a pre-season friendly at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Following a win away to Dax in their opening pre-season fixture last week, Wasps will field a side bolstered by their internationals as they face Andy Robinson's 2007/08 fourth place Magners League outfit.
Returning to the fold, England and England Saxons squad members, Josh Lewsey and Dominic Waldouck will combine in the backline with Mark Van Gisbergen, new signing Lachlan Mitchell and Tom Voyce.
Eoin Reddan and Riki Flutey will form the halfback combination at No.9 and No.10, with Reddan captaining the side for this friendly fixture.
In the front row, Wasps' rising talent Rob Webber joins Tim Payne and Pat Barnard, and Simon Shaw, James Haskell and Joe Worsley make their return to club colours adding further strength alongside Richard Birkett and John Hart who took Wasps to victory in France last week.
Looking ahead to the game head coach, Shaun Edwards, paid lip service to his opponents.
"We have the up most respect for our opponents Edinburgh and we will be taking a strong team up there on Saturday ready for a highly competitive game.
"As recently as last season, Leinster lost at Edinburgh in Europe and Toulouse nearly came a cropper because, especially at home, they are developing as a formidable force.
"We're looking to give game time to Tim Payne, Simon Shaw, James Haskell, Joe Worsley, Tom Palmer and Josh Lewsey amongst others now the England players are back at the club, but as well as fielding as many internationalists as possible we'll be giving valuable experience to a couple of our new recruits and young talents.
"We need this outing to blow away the cobwebs with it being a first game for most of our side and it should help us prepare as a whole squad for the challenges of next season," he said.
London Wasps: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen, 14 Josh Lewsey, 13 Lachlan Mitchell, 12 Dominic Waldouck, 11 Tom Voyce, 10 Riki Flutey, 9 Eoin Reddan (captain), 8 John Hart, 7 Joe Worsley, 6 James Haskell, 5 Richard Birkett, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Pat Barnard, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 Damien Varley, 17 Tom French, 18 Tom Palmer, 19 Hugo Ellis, 20 Mark Robinson, 21 Jeremy Staunton, 22 Chris Bishay, 23 Michael Holford, 24 Rob Hoadley.
Date: Saturday, August 23
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 14.30 (13.30 GMT)
Referee: Andy McPherson
Touch judges: David Changeleng, John Fearns
