Bath v Wasps: Teams

At the Recreation Ground, Saturday January 10, live on Sky Sports 2 from 2.30pm

Last updated: 9th January 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Bath v Wasps: Teams

Hooper: Will start

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Bath will be looking to return to winning ways on Saturday when they host Wasps at The Rec.

Steve Meehan's team dropped from first place to third in the Guinness Premiership after they were beaten by Leicester at Welford Road.

Last Sunday's try scorer Stuart Hooper returns to the starting line-up alongside Justin Harrison in the second-row. There are further changes amongst the forwards as England players Lee Mears and Matt Stevens take up their places in the front-row.

Bath Rugby's skills and defence coach Brad Davis believes that it is important for the team to respond positively in another big match.

"We are disappointed with that because we have won some really close games this season at the death. However, what is important now is how we respond to that," he said.

"We know it's a very big game, you don't get much bigger than Leicester one weekend and Wasps the next."

Sackey

London Wasps have made four changes and one positional switch following their defeat of local rival Harlequins.

After sitting out last weekend, Paul Sackey takes back his place on the wing. Hugo Ellis will make his second start of the season, joining Serge Betsen and James Haskell in the back-row.

Elsewhere in the pack, Tim Payne returns to the side after being rested in line with the EPS player agreement. Dan Leo and Richard Burkett form a new second-row, replacing Simon Shaw and George Skivington.

Josh Lewsey starts his return from injury on the bench, joined there by on loan forward Will Matthews.

"It is important for us to continue the winning momentum from last weekend but realise the size of the challenge facing a top team like Bath," said Wasps head coach Shaun Edwards ahead of the clash.

Bath: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Joe Maddock, 13 Alex Crockett, 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Butch James, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Daniel Browne, 7 Michael Lipman (c), 6 Andy Beattie, 5 Stuart Hooper, 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Lee Mears , 1 David Barnes.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Dixon, 17 Duncan Bell, 18 Jonny Faamatuainu, 19 James Scaysbrook, 20 Scott Bemand, 21 Shaun Berne, 22 Jack Cuthbert.

Wasps: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen, 14 Paul Sackey 13 Dominic Waldouck, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Tom Voyce, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 James Haskell, 7. Serge Betsen, 6 Hugo Ellis, 5 Richard Birkett, 4 Dan Leo, 3 Phil Vickery (c), 2 Rob Webber, 1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Tom Lindsay, 18 Tom French, 19 Will Matthews, 20 Joe Simpson, 21 Dave Walder, 22 Josh Lewsey.