Jones to make Wasps bow in London Irish battle

Stephen Jones. Photo credit: David Jones/PA wire

Friday, September 14, 2012
4:59 PM

Stephen Jones will make his competitive debut for London Wasps this weekend, having been named in the number 10 shirt to take on London Irish at Adams Park in round two of the Aviva Premiership tomorrow.

Following two narrow defeats, there are five changes in all to the starting line-up.

The 104–times capped Welsh international Jones, will direct a backline with one change in it, with Andrea Masi coming in as a direct replacement for Chris Bell, who suffered a deep cut to the head last time out.

There are three changes up front with T Rhys Thomas, Joe Launchbury and Ashley Johnson all starting.

London Wasps Director of Rugby said: “London Irish present a potent attacking threat and we will need to step it up in defence to try and keep them out. Like us, they are a new looking squad, still finding their feet but home games are vital in this league and we want to get off to a winning start at Adams Park.”

London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith has named an unchanged side with Declan Danaher captaining the side for the second time this season.

Smith said: “Wasps have a strong squad and will be excited to be back at home. There was a big improvement from our first game last weekend and we will be looking for the same level of improvement tomorrow afternoon.”

London Wasps: 1 Tim Payne, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 3 Fabio Staibano, 4 Tom Palmer, 5 Marco Wentzel, 6 Joe Launchbury, 7 Jonathan Poff, 8 Ashley Johnson, 9 Joe Simpson,

10 Stephen Jones, 11 Christian Wade, 12 Andrea Masi, 13 Elliot Daly, 14 Tom Varndell, 15 Hugo Southwell (c)

Replacements: 16 Tom Lindsay, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Zak Taulafo, 19 James Haskell, 20 Billy Vunipola, 21 Charlie Davies, 22 Nick Robinson, 23 Tommy Bell

London Irish: 15. Tom Homer; 14. Topsy Ojo*13. Jonathan Joseph*; 12. Sailosi Tagicakibau*; 11. Marland Yarde 10. Steve Shingler; 9. Tomás O’Leary*; 1. Max Lahiff; 2. Scott Lawson*; 3. Leo Halavatau; 4. George Skivington; 5. Bryn Evans*; 6. Declan Danaher (Captain); 7. Ofisa Treviranus*; 8. Jon Fisher

Replacements: 16. Brian Blaney; 17. Halani Aulika*; 18. John Ryan; 19. Kieran Low; 20. Alex Gray; 21. Anthony Watson; 22. Shane Geraghty*; 23. Jack Moates

*Denotes Internationals