Alfie Barbeary set to make his Premiership return against Newcastle

March 18, 2021
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Ultimate Rugby

Wasps head coach Lee Blackett has named his s ide to travel to Kingston Park to play Newcastle Falcons in Premiership Round 14 on Friday.

Included in his side is the welcome return to action for Alfie Barbeary, who is named amongst the replacements. He is joined on the bench by Gabriel Oghre, Tom West, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Theo Vukasinovic and Charlie Atkinson.

Barbeary hasn't featured for Wasps since December last year when he suffered an ankle injury against the Sale Sharks. The injury was off the back of his first senior call-up by head coach Eddie Jones ahead of the Autumn Nations Cup final against France.

All in all there are six changes to the Wasps starting line-up from the game against Bristol Bears last time out. Club captain Joe Launchbury returns to form an all-international second row with Will Rowlands. Kieran Brookes is back from suspension to start in the front row alongside Ben Harris and Tommy Taylor.

In the back line, Jimmy Gopperth moves to fly-half and forms the half-back partnership with Sam Wolstenholme. Michael Le Bourgeois takes Gopperth’s place at inside centre.

Paolo Odogwu and Dan Robson are away with England for the final game of their Six Nations campaign.

Wasps (First-team appearances)

15 Rob Miller (118)

14 Zach Kibirige (39)

13 Malakai Fekitoa (29)

12 Michael Le Bourgeois (50)

11 Josh Bassett (140)

10 Jimmy Gopperth (121)

9 Sam Wolstenholme (17)

1 Ben Harris (74)

2 Tommy Taylor (83)

3 Kieran Brookes (52)