Aviva Premiership preview: Wasps aim to take advantage of poor London Irish form
London Irish will aim to maintain their lead at the top of the Aviva Premiership as they visit Adams Park to face Wasps on Sunday 21 November.
Irish have recalled lock Bob Casey, blind-side Kieran Roche, winger Topsy Ojo and prop Clarke Dermody for the match.
The Exiles will also start influential half-backs Paul Hodgson and Ryan Lambe who missed the 16-25 defeat to the Scarlets in the LV= Cup.
Jamie Lennard will continue to play at full-back as Delon Armitage is away with England on international duty.
London Irish captain Clarke Dermody told BBC Radio Berkshire that it was crucial that his team picked up points before the Heineken Cup.
"We break our season down into mini seasons. After our break in the LV= Cup, we now go into the next stage, with three really important games against some good teams in Wasps, Northampton, Leicester. At this stage of the season, we need to get points to
stay at the top of the league before our Heineken Cup match against Toulon.”
Despite London Irish’s defeat to the Scarlets in their last match, the Exiles have made a wonderful start to the season.
However, they will be eager to return to winning ways against Wasps after losing to the Scarlets and to Sale in the LV=Cup. Sale thrashed London Irish 39-14 in what was the Exiles' worst performance of the season.
Wasps will realise that London Irish are going through a bad spell and they will look to capitalise on this.
The home side will be boosted by the return of centre Ben Jacobs and the half-back pairing of scrum-half Joe Simpson and out-half Dave Walder. All three players have managed to shake off injuries to claim a starting place.
Hooker Joe Ward replaces Rob Webber and Wasps director of rugby, Tom Hanks was delighted that veteran Simon Shaw is available after he was released by England to play in the match.
Speaking to reporters he said, "In terms of selection we are pleased to welcome Dave Walder, Joe Simpson and Ben Jacobs back from injury. Simon Shaw's presence is also a huge boost going into this game," said Hanks
Wasps have failed to perform consistently this season and after a terrible 29-6 loss to Exeter in the LV= Cup, they returned to form to narrowly beat Bath 18-16 in the second match of the tournament.
Hanks said, "Last weekend's performance against Bath was certainly an improvement on the Exeter display and that is something we now need to build on. It was good to see more control throughout the game but we did make things hard for ourselves towards the
end and let our guard down at critical times.”
Wasps are currently in eighth place in the Aviva Premiership and though they will be boosted by a number of notable players returning, London Irish will also bring back some of their big players.
Though, London Irish are struggling, the league leaders will be expected to bounce back against Wasps.
Prediction: Wasps 15 London Irish 19
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