With several players on international rugby duty this weekend, Wasps make five changes for their re-arranged fixture against Sale Sharks on Sunday.

The 5.15pm kick off enables supporters to enjoy the Italy v England match, which will be shown in all bars and concourses at Adams Park on Sunday, before turning their attention to the Guinness Premiership action closer to home that evening.

The majority of the team changes come in the forwards, where Dan Leo and Joe Worsley combine with Lawrence Dallaglio in the back row, and props Nick Adams and Tom French come in to join Joe Ward in the front row. England Saxons pairing of George Skivington and Tom Palmer at lock continue in the second row. The fifth change comes in the backs, where the experienced Dave Walder dons the No10 shirt.

The game will be only the second start of the season for England international Worsley. His first came against Leeds on 5th January when, having recovered from a hamstring injury picked up in the World Cup Final, Worsley turned in an impressive performance. Unfortunately he also buy picked up a neck injury in that game that once again put him back on the sideline and out of the reckoning for England’s opening two games of the Six Nations.

Director of Rugby, Ian McGeechan said, “With a number of our players missing on international duty, this game is a big opportunity for some of our younger players. Playing against an experienced side such as Sale is a big challenge for them, and something they will all be looking forward to.”

London Wasps team to face Sale Sharks is:

15 Josh Lewsey
14 Rob Hoadley
13 Fraser Waters
12 Dominic Waldouck
11 David Doherty
10 Dave Walder
9 Mark McMillan

1 Tom French
2 Joe Ward
3 Nick Adams
4 Tom Palmer
5 George Skivington
6 Dan Leo
7 Joe Worsley
8 Lawrence Dallaglio (c)

16 James Buckland
17 Michael Holford
18 Richard Birkett
19 John Hart
20 Simon Amor
21 Mark Van Gisbergen
22 Rob Webber

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