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Wasps set to welcome back 4 key men ahead of test with Leinster
By Alex Shaw
In some much-needed good news, after the club’s home defeat at the hands at Gloucester on Saturday, Wasps could be set to welcome back a number of key players from injury when they head over to Dublin on Friday night to take on Leinster, in the opening game of the 2018/19 Heineken Champions Cup.
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A 35-21 defeat at the Ricoh Arena was hardly the springboard Wasps wanted heading into European competition, but the club were missing Joe Launchbury, Brad Shields, Lima Sopoaga and Willie le Roux, as well as scrum-half Dan Robson leaving the game early with an ankle injury.
Per CoventryLive, Dai Young is expecting both Shields and Sopoaga to be fit for the game, whilst le Roux, who failed a HIA test in South Africa’s loss to New Zealand at the weekend, passed his HIA2 test after the game, which means the injury was not classed as a concussion. Providing he passes the cognitive test on Tuesday and stays symptom free, he should also be available to take on Leinster.
Things are a little more complicated with Launchbury, who could be set for surgery if there are any further setbacks from the knee injury that he picked up against Leicester Tigers. That said, Young is hopeful he will train with the club on Tuesday and as long as he gets through that without issue, he is another weapon that Wasps will welcome back into their arsenal.
Should surgery be required, however, it is only like to be a clear out procedure, which would keep the lock out for weeks, rather than months.
The club will have to play more of a waiting game with Robson, though, as the scrum-half is only set to have an MRI scan on his ankle today, with the results expected to be assessed by a specialist on Wednesday.
At this point, it does not seem likely that Robson will take any part in the game against Leinster and Wasps will instead be hoping that he is not set for a long spell on the sidelines.
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Watch: Wasps’ opponents Leinster look in impressive form as they gear up for Friday’s match with a win over Munster.
