Wasps v Worcester preview

Published: Friday, 16. November, 2012 in category Northern Hemishere
Varndell: Will start on the wing for Wasps

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young has included six new faces in the starting line-up for Sunday's game.

Tom Varndell will start on the wing, with Matt Everard making his first competitive start of the season, after an impressive display off the bench in Cardiff last weekend.

With Marco Wentzel ruled out with a knock, Wasps have called up Josh Brown from London Scottish to fill the second-row, with the area already missing Tom Palmer and Joe Launchbury who are in the England side this weekend.

Having been rested last weekend, Ashley Johnson and Tom Lindsay are the other new starters coming back into the team.

Meanwhile, the Warriors are aiming to continue their momentum in the LV= Cup, as they top the Pool Two standings after the opening round of games.

There are five changes to Worcester's starting line-up, following their bonus point win over Scarlets at Sixways.

Nigel Redman, assistant coach, makes four changes in the pack with a new-look front row of Ollie Hayes, Ceri Jones and Rob O'Donnell, making his first start for Warriors since a summer move from Rotherham Titans.

Errie Claassens is the only change to the back division as he returns at full back with lock Craig Gillies named in the second row alongside captain Dean Schofield.

London Wasps: 15 Hugo Southwell (c), 14 Jack Wallace, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Chris Bell, 11 Tom Varndell, 10 Tommy Bell, 9 Jonah Holmes, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Matt Everard, 6 Sam Jones, 5 Josh Brown, 4 James Cannon, 3 Phil Swainston, 2 Tom Lindsay, 1 Simon McIntyre.

Replacements: 16 Nathan Morris, 17 Tim Payne, 18 Will Taylor, 19 Dave Hughes, 20 James Haskell, 21 Charlie Davies, 22 Lee Thomas, 23 Chris Mayor.

Worcester: 15 Errie Claassens, 14 Nikki Walker, 13 Alex Grove, 12 Jon Clarke, 11 Andy Short, 10 Joe Carlisle, 9 Jonny Arr, 8 Blair Cowan, 7 Jake Abbott, 6 Richard de Carpentier, 5 Craig Gillies, 4 Dean Schofield (c), 3 Rob O'Donnell, 2 Ollie Hayes, 1 Ceri Jones.

Replacements: 16 Ed Shervington, 17 Ryan Furniss, 18 James Currie, 19 Chris Jones, 20 Neil Best, 21 Paul Hodgson, 22 Andy Goode, 23 Ben Howard.