Stoop farewell for Chris Robshaw as Quins host Wasps

Adam Kyriacou

Harlequins flanker Chris Robshaw will play his 299th game and final home match at the Stoop as his side face Wasps in the Premiership on Monday.

Leading the side for the final time on home ground, Robshaw is named in a run-on side with five changes to the team that played in the Premiership Cup final earlier this week.

Springbok pairing Andre Esterhuizen and Wilco Louw will make their first starts in Harlequins colours, having featured from the bench since arriving at the club in recent months.

Last weekend’s vice-captain Stephan Lewies misses out on selection after sustaining a concussion against Sale in the Premiership Cup final, replaced in the second-row by Glen Young. Scrum-half Scott Steele and wing Chris Ashton also return to the starting XV in place of Danny Care and Nathan Earle respectively.

Summer signing Jordan Els will look to make his Harlequins debut from the bench, with the South African-born loosehead prop overcoming a hamstring injury that delayed his first match in the famous Quarters.

Meanwhile, Lee Blackett has named his Wasps side for the crucial trip to Twickenham Stoop.

There is one change to the starting line-up that beat Bristol Bears last time out on September 13. Joe Launchbury is out with a calf injury and is replaced by James Gaskell.

Wasps are currently in third position in the Premiership standings and a victory would be massive for their hopes of a play-off spot.

Form: Wasps have lost only once in the last ten rounds of Gallagher Premiership Rugby: 11-20 at home to Sale on 25 August. Wasps have won their last four away games in Premiership Rugby but have not won five in succession on the road since season 2003/04. The last six encounters between the two clubs in all competitions could not be more even with each team securing three wins apiece. Wasps won 44-22 on their most recent visit to Twickenham Stoop but have not won successive matches at the venue since 2007.

The teams:

Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Aaron Morris, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Scott Steele, 8 James Chisholm, 7 Will Evans, 6 Chris Robshaw (c), 5 Glen Young, 4 Dino Lamb, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Santiago Garcia Botta
Replacements: 16 Elia Elia, 17 Jordan Els, 18 Simon Kerrod, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Alex Dombrandt, 21 Danny Care, 22 Brett Herron, 23 James Lang

Wasps: 15 Matteo Minozzi, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Jimmy Gopperth, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Dan Robson (c), 8 Tom Willis, 7 Jack Willis, 6 Brad Shields, 5 James Gaskell, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Tom Cruse, 1 Ben Harris
Replacements: 16 Gabriel Oghre, 17 Tom West, 18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 19 Tim Cardall, 20 Alfie Barbeary, 21 Thomas Young, 22 Ben Vellacott, 23 Michael Le Bourgeois

Venue: Twickenham Stoop
Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Referee: Luke Pearce
Assistant Referees: Simon Harding, Rob Warburton
TMO: Matthew Carley

 

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