Author

Tom Tainton writes

Posted Thursday, February 24th 2022 @thomastainton

Team news: Bristol Bears vs Wasps - GP R18

Thursday, February 24th 2022

Jake Woolmore will make his 100^th competitive appearance for the club when Bears host Wasps on Friday evening (7.45pm KO).

Pat Lam makes eight changes from Worcester defeat
Jake Woolmore set for 100th competitive appearance
Antoine Frisch and Niyi Adeolokun earn starts in backline

The prop is the 43^rd player to reach this milestone for the club and the first Bears centurion (all appearances for the club made since the rebrand in 2018).

Pat Lam makes eight changes from the side that suffered defeat to Worcester last weekend. In the backline, Henry Purdy comes in at full back, while Niyi Adeolokun and Antoine Frisch earn starts.

Tiff Eden and Theo Strang form a new look half back partnership, with Max Green (wrist) the latest scrum half to be ruled out through injury.

In the pack, Dave Attwood, Harry Thacker and Jake Heenan earn recalls, while Steven Luatua switches to no.8.

Jake Armstrong returns from Edinburgh to be included among the replacements, while Callum Sheedy also comes into the 23-man squad following his release from Wales late in the week.

Bristol Bears team to face Wasps at Ashton Gate Stadium on Friday, February 25^th (7.45pm KO):

15. Henry Purdy (36 apps); 14. Niyi Adeolokun (19 apps), 13. Semi Radradra (31 apps), 12. Antoine Frisch (6 apps), 11. Alapati Leiua (93 apps); 10. Tiff Eden (17 apps), 9. Theo Strang (4 apps); 1. Jake Woolmore (99 apps), 2. Harry Thacker (66 apps), 3. Max Lahiff (39 apps), 4. Dave Attwood (66 apps), 5. Joe Joyce (141 apps), 6. Chris Vui (83 apps), 7. Jake Heenan (65 apps), 8. Steven Luatua (c) (90 apps).

System players: 16. Bryan Byrne (24 apps), 17. Yann Thomas (83 apps), 18. Jake Armstrong (23 apps), 19. Sam Jeffries (43 apps), 20. Dan Thomas (102 apps), 21. Ioan Lloyd (57 apps), 22. Callum Sheedy (122 apps), 23. Piers O’Conor (97 apps)

Unavailable: Kyle Sinckler, John Afoa, Fitz Harding, Harry Randall, Andy Uren, Tom Whiteley, Toby Venner, Max Green, Sam Bedlow, Toby Fricker, Charles Piutau, Luke Morahan, Siva Naulago, Charlie Powell.