LEICS
No.Name
15Mathew Tait, FB
14Adam Thompstone, W
13Peter Betham, C
12Matt Smith, C
11JP Pietersen, W
10Freddie Burns, FH
4
9Sam Harrison, SH
1Marcos Ayerza, P
2Tom Youngs, H
3Dan Cole, P
4Ed Slater, L
T
5Michael Fitzgerald, L
6Luke Hamilton, FL
7Brendon O'Connor, FL
8Lachlan McCaffrey, N8
T
Replacements
16George McGuigan, R
17Ellis Genge, R
18Greg Bateman, R
19Graham Kitchener, R
20Mike Williams, R
21Ben Youngs, R
22Owen Williams, R
23Jack Roberts, R

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium
3:00 PM, September 10, 2016
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'+122-34 End of second half
81'+122-34 Conversion - Jimmy Gopperth , Wasps
80'Leicester take 5 points from their opening two fixtures, whilst Wasps claim 9 and are behind only Bath in the Aviva Premiership table. Thanks for joining us here and do keep an eye out for reports & reactions to come later on.
80'Wasps captain Launchbury admits he was outvoted on the call at the end to go for the corner, a call that proved a good one. He's rightly pleased - Wasps are 2 from 2. Launchbury is the Man of the Match but across the board Wasps were excellent. Meanwhile Bath hammered Newcastle 58-5.
80'Gopperth adds the extras this time, and that's it! 34-22 to Wasps, a first win for them at Welford Road since 2008! Back then they were LONDON Wasps! The visitors rightly delighted. A deserved bonus point win.
Leicester fought back from 27-8 down to create a grandstand finish, but scoring just three points when they had a man advantage proved crucial.
80'A fourth try! A bonus point for Wasps! Fantastic driving maul by Wasps from the set-piece, and Gopperth then picks the right time to pick and go, scoring from close range.
80'After Gopperth sliced two kicks recently to miss them this time Wasps have gone for the corner. They want a bonus point for a fourth try.
80'22-32 Try - Jimmy Gopperth , Wasps
79'The decision is a deliberate knock-on and a yellow card for a professional foul. Leicester will end this game with 13 players as Betham is off.
79'Betham only used one hand and it will be a penalty for Wasps, but the TMO is taking his time to see if they can decide if it was deliberate.
79'The TMO is checking for a deliberate knock-on by Betham to stop a pass from Johnson that would have put Nathan Hughes through for a try to finish the game.
79'Leicester have a lifeline and have made the most of it, sending the ball long and up the field. They've then won themselves a lineout on the 10 metre line but they waste the chance.
79'Yellow card - Peter Betham , Leicester Tigers
78'Gopperth misses AGAIN from the same spot as a minute or two again. Just to the right of centre, he's now 5 from 8 for the game with the boot.
77'Nasty collision and Ellis Genge is given the yellow card by the TMO. Can Gopperth make it count this time?
76'OUCH! From the re-start Gaskell lands on his shoulders and head after a nasty collision with Genge.
76'MISSED! Gopperth misses and he was shielding his eyes against the low sun which didn't help. That would have put Wasps more than a score clear.
76'Yellow card - Ellis Genge , Leicester Tigers
75'BIG chance for the visitors, a penalty for Gopperth.....
74'Guy Thompson is back on, Wasps seven minutes from their first win at Welford Road since 2008, can they hang on?
73'Wasps have done really well to get through the yellow card with just three points conceded. The visitors steal the ball and get a penalty for taking the man out. Bonus.
72'Big first throw for George McGuigan. it's good but Wasps stop the driving maul and bundle them out. Wasps then clear their lines but the kick from Simpson gains little ground.
72'Burns pings it right into the corner and it's a line-out to the Tigers just inside the 22.
71'Once again superb from Freddie Burns who has been at the centre of everything good from Leicester after the break! Burns gets the ball inside his own 22, steps past two men and runs past a couple more before executing a brilliant off-load. Good from him and Leicester have a penalty just inside their own half.
69'Daly MISSES, the direction was fine but it just drifted wide to the right. Still just the five points between the teams! Wasps are back to 15 men in less than five minutes now.
68'The referee asked for a stable scrum but Leicester tighthead Bateman was at fault. Wasps are delighted. Elliot Daly lines up the kick from just inside his own half....
67'Speaking live a few minutes ago Dai Young admitted his side are "playing into the hands of Leicester". The Tigers were 27-8 down here but have stormed back and now the home fans are in full voice. A few reset scrums on the half-way line which the visitors won't mind as the clock ticks down.
67'Substitutions aplenty and we're set for a fascinating final 15 minutes or so.
66'Substitute on - Ashley Johnson , Wasps
66'Player substituted - Tommy Taylor , Wasps
65'Ten minutes in the bin for Guy Thompson and Burns slots. Just a try in it!
64'It's been deemed a no arms tackle by the TMO and, because Launchbury had just been spoken to about foul play, it's a yellow card.
64'Substitute on - Matt Mullan , Wasps
64'Player substituted - Simon McIntyre , Wasps
64'22-27 Penalty goal - Freddie Burns , Leicester Tigers
64'Player substituted - Matt Symons , Wasps
64'Substitute on - James Gaskell , Wasps
64'Substitute on - Owen Williams , Leicester Tigers
64'Player substituted - Matt Smith , Leicester Tigers
64'Substitute on - Greg Bateman , Leicester Tigers
64'Player substituted - Dan Cole , Leicester Tigers
64'Yellow card - Guy Thompson , Wasps
64'Player substituted - Tom Youngs , Leicester Tigers
64'Substitute on - George McGuigan , Leicester Tigers
63'Wasps got the turn over as play continued and cleared their lines, but the TMO has come back for the incident. Replays show it was a late hit from Guy Thompson on Peter Betham.
63'Leicester having a sustained spell in the Wasps 22 and really testing out the visitors defence. A tackle on peter Betham is being looked at by the TMO.
62'Wasps skipper Launchbury has been warned by the referee that there has been too many penalties from his side in this half. Wasps have conceded five. Burns goes for the corner from the latest one and that appears to come from order by the coaching staff.
61'Pietersen is down receiving treatment. Meanwhile Bath are 44-0 up against Newcastle. At Welford Road Cipriani gives away the penalty, but Burns misses a very kickable one to his left. How crucial could that be?
60'Just as I write that Cipriani strikes one straight out on the full, and Leicester use the attacking platform. Another cross kick from Burns is gathered by Wade but it was a penalty advantage.
59'Substitute on - Frank Halai , Wasps
59'Player substituted - Josh Bassett , Wasps
58'Nathan Hughes has already made a great impact on the game, stealing the ball from a ruck brilliantly and providing a couple of purposeful carries. Wasps seem to have fund their gusto again.
56'The team that has been winning the contact situations has been winning the game. Wasps did it for the vast majority of the first period, then the early part of the second, but Leicester are now dominating it.
56'Substitute on - Graham Kitchener , Leicester Tigers
56'Player substituted - Ed Slater , Leicester Tigers
56'Substitute on - Mike Williams , Leicester Tigers
56'Player substituted - Luke Hamilton , Leicester Tigers
56'Player substituted - Thomas Young , Wasps
56'Substitute on - Nathan Hughes , Wasps
56'Substitute on - Ben Youngs , Leicester Tigers
56'Player substituted - Sam Harrison , Leicester Tigers
56'Substitute on - Jake Cooper-Woolley , Wasps
56'Player substituted - Marty Moore , Wasps
56'19-27 Penalty goal - Freddie Burns , Leicester Tigers
54'Burns kick it and once AGAIN the noise volume goes up, the gap is just eight. Wasps bring on Hughes, the biggest impact player they have - clearly Dai Young can see the visitors need to change things.
54'ANOTHER penalty for Leicester. Ball carrier not rolling away. Excellent work from Hamilton and Slater at the ruck.
53'Leicester have a penalty from a good 35 metres out but straight. Burns does the business. 27-16 Wasps and suddenly the crowd have come alive again.
53'16-27 Penalty goal - Freddie Burns , Leicester Tigers
51'It all started with Burns dinked through and catching his own kick, a break that took Leicester to just inside the Wasps half. A cross field kick from Burns then released Pietersen. The South African winger used some neat football skills when the kick came to his feet, and kept the ball metres out. Slater goes over in the corner, and even with Burns missing the kick Leicester have some momentum.
49'13-27 Try - Ed Slater , Leicester Tigers
48'Leicester HAVE some magic! WOW! Try for Ed Slater, 27-13 to Wasps, game on!
48'Wasps are winning every collision and Leicester need some magic here.
47'Wasps 27-8 up now though once again Gopperth misses the extra pints from the right of centre. He'll be disappointed as that's one he normally slots.
47'TRY! Wasps have two within five minutes of the break. Leicester in real trouble. A big moment for Jones, just his 2nd try in 75 Premiership games. Deserved after a good game from him.
47'8-27 Conversion - Jimmy Gopperth , Wasps
46'8-25 Try - Sam Jones , Wasps
45'I had just praised Sam Jones and the back row might well have bundled over. The TMO is being asked if there's any reason it cannot be given.....
45'Bit of an injury stoppage but we're now underway, Wasps scrum after a knock-on from Luke Hamilton. Superb break out from just inside their own half led by Simpson. Tait somehow stops in. Wasps 2m out. Surely they'll score?
45'In the other game Bath are on fire, 32-0 up against Necastle! yes, 32-0! Once again George Ford is having a good day with the boot and in the open field. Back to Welford Road and you can see that the ground is nervous. Looking back at replays from the try and it was great work from Sam Jones in the ruck. Jones cleaned out three leicester before kicking through.
45'Substitute on - Ellis Genge , Leicester Tigers
45'Player substituted - Marcos Ayerza , Leicester Tigers
44'Leicester came back from 31-7 in a sensational game last time out out about Gloucester, how about 20-8 down?
43'Try! What scrappy defending! Once again a retreating player cannot deal with a kick, Peter Betham cannot gather it. Guy Thompson picks up, bursts through two tacklers and scores. Gopperth adds the two. Wasps in control.
43'8-20 Conversion - Jimmy Gopperth , Wasps
42'8-18 Try - Guy Thompson , Wasps
41'The teams are back out, Smoke on the Water has had another blast on the speakers and now we are underway again. Leicester gather the re-start and immediately build with more engery and purpose than we saw in the first half.
41'8-13 End of first half
40'Leicester 8 Wasps 13 at the break. Can Wasps make this a first win at Welford Road since 2008? Will it a first defeat in 7 at Welford Road across all competitions for Leicester? It's a cliche, but you'll have to wait and see. be sure to join us for the second-half shortly.
40'Gopperth has a penalty with the last kick from the first half. Well out on the right touchline but he cannot convert. Gopperth misses to his right narrowly.
Wasps lead 13-8 at the break and have deserved it. Leicester have only come alive towards the end of the first 40. One try each but Gopperth has been the difference. Solid goal kicking and most importantly a brilliant kick through for Wade to score.
40'8-13 Start of second half
39'Matthew Tait appears to execute a turnover on Christian Wade but, to the anger of the home crowd, the ref decides Tait was off his feet. The clock is now red.
39'Joe Simpson takes responsibility to help Wasps make it through with a good clearing kick. Symons then helps Wasps win the resulting line out to get Wasps into less troubled waters. Cipriani and Gopperth gives Wasps kicking options on both feet and that helps them play their way out. Less than aminute until the break now.
37'You get the feeling Wasps are now just trying to make it to half-time. Leicester with all the momentum and will not want the whistle to come.
34'Leicester get their first driving maul going and are having a good spell. Burns kicks the ball away to no result. Both Leicester and Wasps are looking to get their wingers in behind so are kicking a lot out of hand in attacking situations. Those kicks are lethal when executed well but in these conditions it's difficult.
34'The referee have given Launchbury a stern warning after the Wasps skipper made his displeasure with a decision that led to the Leicester try.
32'After a first half far from their best suddenly Leicester are only 13-8 down and are starting to play much better.
32'McCaffrey bounces over the line to score in the far left corner as Leicester look at it. Wasps captain Launchbury s furious, as he feels the turnover that initially gave Leicester the ball wasn't legal.
31'8-13 Try - Lachlan McCaffrey , Leicester Tigers
30'Just as I write about those difficult conditions Leicester score thanks to that exact problem. Josh Bassett dives on the ball from the a kick through by the Tigers and Gopperth couldn't gather it either.
30'Nine turnovers in less than half an hour tell a story in itself. It might have stopped raining but the greasy surface is clearly still making running rugby somewhat difficult.
28'That was truly brilliant from Gopperth and Wade, the pair ruthless in punishing Leicester and catching them on the break.
There has been a huge amount of kicking in play so far - it's been a lively game . At this rate there's going to be some very tired teams out there at the end and potentially fitness is going to be crucial.
27'3-13 Conversion - Jimmy Gopperth , Wasps
26'TRY TIME - Brilliant from Gopperth. It started with a turnover inside their own half, Gopperth charges through and then chips through for Wade. The pacy winger gets there to finish it off and score. Gopperth adds the extra two.
26'3-11 Try - Christian Wade , Wasps
23'Wasps have made 115 metres in this game to 76 from Leicester, and deservedly lead.
23'It's a third penalty in the match you'd expect to be converted, 30 metres out just to the right of centre, and Gopperth makes no mistake. Wasps 6-3 ahead and have deserved the slender lead.
23'3-6 Penalty goal - Jimmy Gopperth , Wasps
21'Wasps have responded in the best possible way. A good driving maul that kept rolling every time Leicester put a hit in. Wasps earn their rewards as a side entry gives Gopperth a penalty.
21'3-3 Penalty goal - Freddie Burns , Leicester Tigers
20'Suddenly the Welford Road are lively again, we've got a cracker of a game on here!
20'It was a regulation kick, Burns makes no mistake. We're all square!
19'Wasps have dominated the scrum but in a classic case of the curse of the commentator, have now conceded a scrum penalty. And it's Marty Moore, the man i was just praising, who has been penalised. Burns has a kick for 3-3.
17'Leicester have some possession and territory, great hands by Sam Harrison from the lineout but a forward pass means the move breaks down.
17'Referee talking particularly to the Leicester pack at the scrum - "keep your feet in, and your hips up" he says. Marty Moore having a good game in the scrum for Wasps so far.
14'Leicester full-back Matthew Tait has struggled with his kicking, and he boots one straight out on the full. Richard Cockerill looks tense and understandably so because his side haven't got going yet.
14'Wasps have quietened the Welford Road crowd here and are winning the battle in the forwards currently across both set-pieces and lose play.
13'Brilliant kick from Cipriani, Wasps running through the phases nicely again, then Cipriani pings one deep into the Leicester 22 to put the hosts under pressure. From the lineout Wasps captain Launchbury collapses the maul in the eyes of the ref though, allowing the Tigers to escape.
12'Not for the first time Wasps start running through the phases around the fringes of rucks. A lovely snipe from Joe Simpson to create space out wide for Cipriani and Gopperth, but the move is ended by a forward pass.
10'Wasps win a penalty on the half-way line due to Leicester collapsing the scrum and are currently having the better of that duel.
8'There was plenty of rain in the days and hours leading up to this game but it has relented to make conditions reasonable for running rugby. The crow dare really making themselves heard. Wasps had the ball just inside the Leicester half for a number of minutes, but an excellent choke tackle from JP Petersen, Dan Cole and then others forcing the turnover. Naturally the Welford Road crowd are delighted, and are already making themselves heard. The expansion to 26,000 capacity can really be noticed in games like this.
6'Leicester come straight back at Wasps with some good phases through the hands. it goes wide to JP Pietersen, who kicks on and into touch. Wasps complete the lineout and clear their lines well initially. The ball is returned into their own territory and joe Simpson slices the kick into touch. Leicester lineout well into the visitors half. The Tigers have responded well to going behind.
4'0-3 Penalty goal - Jimmy Gopperth , Wasps
2'We're off and underway here at Welford Road and visitors Wasps have had the better start here. They've earnt themselves a very kickable penalty early on, which is duly slotted by Jimmy Gopperth. Wasps had earnt a three man overlap after some brilliant work from Ciprian at 10 but couldn't quite convert it. The Tigers will be relieved to have only conceded three points. Advantage Wasps.
1'KEY BATTLES Plenty of individual battles across the pitch this afternoon. Four to watch with particularly keen interest:
JP Pieterson vs Christian Wade
Freddie Burns vs Danny Cipriani (who'll both be wanting to get back into the England squad)
Tom Youngs vs Tommy Taylor
Mike Fitzgerald vs Matt Symons
1'TEAM NEWS
England international Dan Cole starts for Leicester at prop, after starting that dramatic win against Gloucester on the bench.
Mike Williams and Owen Williams are both fit to return to a strong Tigers bench, whilst Mike Fitzgerald returns to starting at lock.
For Wasps openside flanker Thomas Young is back after four months out with injury, whilst Joe Simpson is recalled and starts at scrum-half.
New signings Matt Symons and Marty Moore both make their first starts.
Waasps have a length injury list, including James Haskall and new signings Kurtley Beale and Kyle Eastmond amongst others.
1'Hello and welcome to ESPN's live text commentary on this afternoon's Aviva Premiership match At Welford Road. I'm Michael McCann and thanks for joining us for Leicester Tigers vs Wasps. It's a 3pm kick-off, whilst at the same time Bath host Newcastle, but our focus is on Welford Road. Which side will suffer a first defeat of the season, after both teams won last week?
1'0-0 Start of first half