Bayonne v Wasps: Teams
Wasps have made four changes to their starting XV for the return clash with Bayonne on Thursday night.
Last Updated: 17/12/09 5:06pm
Wasps have made four changes to their starting line-up that overcame Bayonne last week and they will be looking to double up this Thursday.
The fixture taking place at Stade Jean Dauger will go a long way in deciding who may finish atop of Pool Four in the 2009/10 Amlin Challenge Cup.
Wasps are currently at the summit of the group on thirteen points, three points ahead of Bayonne with just three rounds remaining.
And director of rugby Tony Hanks has been given the extra luxury of being able to recall Paul Sackey, Ben Jacobs, Simon Shaw and Rob Webber as he looks to continue on his December rotation policy.
Crucial
"We were pleased with the result last weekend but the competitive nature of the fixture was evident from the off," he told the club's website.
"With such a short turnaround and a run out on Bayonne's own turf, we expect this to be even more intense come Thursday.
"Both sides have all to play for and points at this stage are crucial to moving into the quarter-final window so it is a game we are relishing and one the players are really up for.
"Our team changes reflect the block of three fixtures in an eleven day turnaround and give us the chance to fully rotate the squad bring the likes of Shaw, Sackey, Webber and Jacobs back into the line up.
"I think what this window of games has shown is that we really have strength in our squad and are not reliant on a starting line up - that shows the health at the Club and is really positive for Wasps at this stage of the season."
Bayonne: 15 J Peyras, 14 P Elhorga (capt), 13 T Lacroix, 12 S Gerber, 11 B Fall, 10 C Gower, 9 C Garcia; 1 S Perugini, 2 D Roumieu, 3 R Blake, 4 R Linde, 5 N Laffite, 6 J Marmouyet, 7 R Martin, 8 J Puricelli.
Replacements: 16 A Heguy, 17 A Iguiniz, 18 R Filipo, 19 J Deen, 20 M Lopez-Herrero, 21 M Edmonds, 22 V Inigo, 23 D Avril.
Wasps: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Ben Jacobs, 12 Dominic Waldouck, 11 David Lemi, 10 Dave Walder, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Dan Ward-Smith, 7 Serge Betsen (capt), 6 John Hart, 5 George Skivington, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Ben Broster, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Gabriel Bocca, 18 Martin Rice, 19 Richard Birkett, 20 Will Matthews, 21 Mark Robinson, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Steve Kefu.