Wasps: We won’t be daunted by Leinster challenge

Wasps' rugby director Dai Young insists his squad will not be daunted when they take on Leinster in Dublin in the Champions Cup on Sunday.

The Aviva Premiership side will be without England flanker James Haskell, who has a knee injury, with prop Matt Mullan skippering the side and Sam Jones handed a back-row starting place.

Elsewhere, Joe Launchbury and Bradley Davies continue in the second-row, while prop Jake Cooper-Woolley starts instead of suspended tighthead Lorenzo Cittadini.

“We have huge respect for Leinster,” Young said.

“They are one of the most successful sides in European history and have performed consistently at the highest level for as many years as I can remember, but our squad won’t be daunted.

“We have an exciting young team and we want to develop as quickly as we can, so the more big games we can play, the better.

“If we want to be successful and to be back among Europe’s best clubs, we have to play against the best.

“We’ve certainly got that in Leinster this weekend, Toulon in Coventry next weekend and then Bath. Win, lose or draw, we will be the better for it.”

Exeter are also in Champions Cup action on Sunday, visiting Pool Two rivals the Ospreys, with the Chiefs travelling minus injured pair Thomas Waldrom and Phil Dollman, while Geoff Parling and Ben Moon will not be risked after recently returning to training following injury lay-offs.

The Chiefs' England backs Jack Nowell and Henry Slade both start, though, with the Ospreys parading eight of Wales' World Cup squad, including Dan Biggar, Alun-Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate and Justin Tipuric.

“Going away to Ospreys is a great start for us,” Exeter head coach Rob Baxter said.

“They are the team who should be really under pressure. It’s a home game for them, and next week they go to Clermont, so that’s a tough start for them.

“Our aim is to be in this competition as often as we can, and when we are in it, to then be as good as we possibly can.”