RECAP: Wasps v Bristol Bears

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our coverage of the Premiership semifinal between Wasps and Bristol Bears in Coventry.

Wasps have reached their fourth Premiership semifinal in the last five years but their only victory in those encounters was by a single point against Leicester Tigers at Ricoh Arena in 2017. Wasps have won their last six matches since their 11-20 reversal at home to Sale on August 25.

That defeat was their only home loss in any tournament since Bordeaux-Begles beat them in Coventry on January 18. Bristol Bears only previous Premiership semifinal appearance was in their 14-26 defeat to Leicester at Welford Road in 2007. The Bears have lost just once since the end of August: 13-59 to Saturday’s opponents Wasps at Ricoh Arena in Round 20.

* To read our pre-match predictions, CLICK HERE!

* Our live blog will appear below, it might take a little while to load, please be patient. We apologise for the inconvenience!

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Teams:

Wasps: 15 Matteo Minozzi, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Jimmy Gopperth, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Brad Shields, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Jack Willis, 5 Will Rowlands, 4 Joe Launchbury (captain), 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Simon McIntyre.

Replacements: 16 Gabriel Oghre, 17 Tom West, 18 Biyi Alo, 19 James Gaskell, 20 Alfie Barbeary, 21 Tom Willis, 22 Ben Vellacott, 23 Michael Le Bourgeois.

Bristol Bears: 15 Max Malins, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Semi Radradra, 12 Siale Piutau, 11 Piers O’Conor, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Steven Luatua (captain), 5 Chris Vui, 4 Joe Joyce, 3 John Afoa, 2 Harry Thacker, 1 Jake Woolmore.

Replacements: 16 George Kloska, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Ed Holmes, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Harry Randall, 22 Sam Bedlow, 23 Alapati Leiua.

Referee: Matthew Carley

Assistant referees: Karl Dickson & Ian Tempest

TMO: Tom Foley.