Ben Franks to make Premiership Debut against Wasps in LDH

London Irish’s Rugby World Cup winner Ben Franks will make his Aviva Premiership debut tomorrow afternoon when he lines up in the Exiles front row against Wasps at Twickenham in the London Double Header (kick-off 5.30pm).

Franks will return to the home of rugby for the first time since winning rugby’s greatest prize, the Rugby World Cup, on 31^st October.

The All Black will line up alongside Tom Court and David Paice in the front row with Eoin Sheriff partnering Captain Matt Symons in the second row. Joe Trayfoot, Blair Cowan and Ofisa Treviranus are named in the back row. 

Scott Steele returns to the side to start at scrum half with Chris Noakes outside him at fly half. Johnny Williams and Aseli Tikoirotuma start in the centre with Tom Fowlie, Alex Lewington and Topsy Ojo in the back three.

Gerard Ellis, Tom Smallbone and Leo Halavatau are the front row replacements with Jebb Sinclair, and Luke Narraway covering the second and back row. Darren Allinson, Theo Brophy-Clews and Fergus Mulchrone are the back replacements.

London Irish Head Coach, Tom Coventry said: “We are looking forward to the contest tomorrow and playing at one of rugby’s iconic stadiums is a real privilege. We have welcomed a couple of our World Cup players back into the fold since our last Premiership match and have enjoyed a good week of preparation. Wasps have had an incredible last two weeks in Europe and we know the enormity of the task facing us, but it is one we are relishing.”

London Irish Team to play Wasps:

15. Topsy Ojo*; 14. Alex Lewington; 13. Aseli Tikoirotuma*; 12. Johnny Williams; 11. Tom Fowlie; 10. Chris Noakes; 9. Scott Steele; 1. Tom Court*; 2. David Paice*; 3. Ben Franks*; 4. Eoin Sheriff; 5. Matt Symons (Captain); 6. Joe Trayfoot; 7. Blair Cowan*; 8. Ofisa Treviranus*

Replacements: 16. Gerard Ellis; 17. Tom Smallbone; 18. Leo Halavatau; 19. Jebb Sinclair*; 20. Luke Narraway*; 21. Darren Allinson; 22. Theo Brophy-Clews; 23. Fergus Mulchrone

*Denotes International 

 

Wasps Team to play London Irish

15. Charles Piutau
14. Sailosi Tagicakibau
13. Elliot Daly
12. Ben Jacobs
11. Frank Halai
10. Ruaridh Jackson
9. Joe Simpson
1. Matt Mullan
2. Ashley Johnson
3. Jake Cooper-Woolley
4. James Gaskell
5. Kearnan Myall
6. James Haskell (c)
7. Thomas Young
8. Nathan Hughes
 
Replacements:

16. Edd Shervington
17. Simon McIntyre
18. Lorenzo Cittadini
19. Bradley Davies
20. Sam Jones
21. Dan Robson
22. Jimmy Gopperth
23. Brendan Macken