Saracens Women – Wasps Ladies

Wasps ready to face champions Saracens

Wasps will travel to Allianz Park this weekend to face reigning champions Saracens. Wasps have started the season strongly with three wins out of their opening four games and will face a stern test against a Saracens side that have only lost once at home since the Tyrrell’s Premier 15s began.

So far this season Wasps have put in a number of impressive performances and faced difficult tests which put them in a good position for a tough fixture at Allianz Park. In their last fixture two weeks ago, they battled against a resilient Worcester side to pick up their third bonus point win of the season.

Saracens are so far undefeated in the Tyrrell’s Premier 15s with the maximum number of points collected. Their game against Wasps will be their toughest test yet as they are yet to face a side in the top half of the table.

Wasps make five changes from the side that beat Worcester Valkyries at Tywford Avenue. The visitors welcome back experienced England international Nolli Waterman at fullback and club captain Kate Alder at inside centre.

The black and gold also bolster their forwards with two Ireland internationals. Claire Molloy returns to the side after an outstanding start to the season, picking up four tries in her two appearances. Hooker Cliodhna Moloney makes her debut for the club after signing in the summer and battling her way through injury.

The final change sees Nora Baltruweit return in the second row to partner Sarah Mitchelson, as Liz Crake moves into the back row.

Speaking ahead of the match head coach Giselle Mather said, “Playing the Champions is always a game elite athletes relish. It is a genuine challenge for us, individually and collectively, to test our skills and structures to the limit, which is something we are really looking forward to.

It will undoubtedly be a very physical contest and should be a great game to watch. We feel ready for that challenge.”

TEAM NEWS

15. Nolli Waterman 14. Amy Wilson Hardy 13. Katie Mason 12. Kate Alder 11. Tova Derk 10. Lizzie Goulden 9. Claudia Macdonald 8. Liz Crake 7. Claire Molloy 6. Sarah Mitchelson 5. Nora Baltruweit 4. Alice Sheffield 3. Hannah West 2. Cliodhna Moloney 1. Claire Purdy

Replacements

16. Kate Hallett 17. Kany Adefemiwa-Afilaka 18. Emily Maisey 19. Nicola Smith 20. Flo Williams 21. Louise Dodd 22. Garnet Mackinder