BEWARE THE STING OF AN INJURED WASP

Well how do you top that? After last week’s A* performance down at The Rec, expectations will be high on Sunday for a repeat performance. But of course it doesn’t always work like that! Last Sunday the stars aligned, everything clicked and Sarries produced something extraordinary. But that very statement “something extraordinary” means its not going to happen every week. And to be honest we have no right to expect it to. What we must hope for is another strong performance from a team with a lot to prove and the abilities to do it.

Our opponents, Wasps, are capable of producing some pretty good stuff of their own! Who can ever forget the St Valentine’s Day Massacre in 2016 when Wasps came to Barnet and thumped the Men in Black 64-23. Or the last time the 2 teams met when Jimmy Gopperth kicked Wasps to an 18-28 victory following a red card for Faz.  Wasps have had a mixed start to the season. 3 of their 4 games have been at home. They have won at the Ricoh against Bristol (where former Sarrie, Ali Crossdale was prominent) and against Saints but lost narrowly there to a late Exeter revival. They also lost their only away trip – to Newcastle.

Wasps game with Chiefs was not without controversy and their transition coach Scott Barrow and Head of Performance, Pete Atkinson were both sent off by referee Wayne Barnes, Barrow for back-heeling the ball to stop a quick Chief’s penalty and Atkinson for remarks made to Mr Barnes. They have both been suspended from this week’s fixture. Needless to say Head Coach Lee Blackett was not impressed. Wasps are also struggling with injuries. Dan Frost picked up an ankle injury against Chiefs and joins the long term injury list which includes Charlie Atkinson, Jack Willis, Joe Launchbury, Paolo Odgowo, Rob Miller, Alfie Barbeary, Ryan Mills, Theo Vukasinovic, Sam Spink, Malaki Fekitoa & James Gaskell. Wasps have a real hooker crisis at the moment with Barbeary, Frost and Cruse all injured and Gabriel Oghre suspended. They hope Tom Cruse will be fit to play on Sunday. New signing Francois Hougard made his debut from the bench last weekend and Tom West and Matteo Minozzi should also be available. Wasps have brought in several players on loan including Hooker Patrick Harrison, Alex McHenry and Sebastian de Chaves.

9 Wasps players have started all 4 games so far and 4 others have featured in every game. Lee Blackett has said that he needs to freshen up the side ahead of the Sarries game. Wasps may feel that this would be a good time to rest players like Dan Robson, Elliot Stooke, Brad Shields and Thomas Young. That could mean a start for Ali Crossdale against his old club. Will they start Jacob Umaga again (another of Eddie’s discards who may feel he has something to prove) and the evergreen, indestructible Jimmy Gopperth?

As for Sarries, Mark McCall must be tempted to leave things as they are.  Rumour has it that Maro is fit to play. Along with Faz, Malins and Jamie George, this would be his last appearance for Sarries until after the Autumn Internationals. Koch may start for Riccioni (who took a knock last week and will probably benefit from a rest). Van Zyl could start for Davies but I would expect a largely unchanged team.

Our referee is Matt Carley assisted by Anthony Woodthorpe and Jonathan Healey. TMO is Craig Maxwell-Keys.

After last week, and given Wasp’s injury problems, you have to predict a Sarries’ win but Sarries must guard against complacency. A lion is most dangerous when it is wounded. And so I guess is a Wasp.