Friday night will be something of a homecoming for Dai Young, who spent almost ten years in charge at Cardiff Blues.
Speaking ahead of the match, the Wasps Director of Rugby said,
“It will be a bit strange alright going down there and playing against my old side, but once the game gets going it’s like any other.”
“I expect Cardiff to name a strong side for the game because they are looking to get some momentum after a few losses and they’ll see this competition as a good way to get that going again.”
“Thomas is making his way in the Cardiff set-up and like any Dad I’m very proud every time he’s involved in a game, but I’ll congratulate him afterwards if he plays on Friday. My wife and my parents will definitely be supporting him and not Wasps this time anyway!”
Young would like to use the LV=Cup as a competition to blood a number of young and emerging Wasps players, but with five players unavailable due to international call-ups this weekend and another seven currently out with injury, his hands are tied somewhat on selection.
“We don’t have the luxury of resting a lot of players to be honest. We have a very small squad and with a lot of players unavailable this weekend and with two retirements already this season, the job for me is to try and mix and match as best I can with the players who are here and fit. I will be giving a game to guys who haven’t started much this season but in some positions I don’t have much of a choice in giving them a break.”
“These two weeks will though give a really good opportunity to those guys who have been benching or not getting in the match-day squads so far.”
Lee Thomas and T Rhys Thomas are both named to start against their former team while on the bench, Matt Everard, Will Taylor and Nathan Morris will form part of the match-day squad for the first time this season, while London Wasps Academy youngster Dave Hughes is in line for his first ever senior appearance for Wasps.
London Wasps15. Elliot Daly ?14. Christian Wade ?13. Chris Bell ?12. Lee Thomas? 11. Jack Wallace ?10. Tommy Bell ?9. Jonah Holmes??
1. Simon McIntyre? 2. T Rhys Thomas? 3. Phil Swainston ?4. James Cannon ?5. Marco Wentzel (captain) ?6. Tinus Du Plessis ?7. Sam Jones ?8. Billy Vunipola??Replacements?
16. Nathan Morris?17. Tim Payne?18. Will Taylor?19. Dave Hughes?20. Matt Everard?21. Charlie Davies?22. Tom Varndell?23. Hugo Southwell