Aviva Premiership - Round 3
Jones inked in for Wasps debut
ESPN Staff
September 14, 2012
Wales' Stephen Jones offers some instruction, Wales v France, Rugby World Cup Semi-Final, Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand, October 15, 2011
Stephen Jones will call the shots at Adams Park on Saturday © Getty Images
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Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership
Teams: England | Wasps

Wasps have handed British & Irish Lions fly-half Stephen Jones his debut ahead of their clash with London Irish on Saturday.

Dai Young will hope that the good feeling around the club following the completion of their takeover will manifest itself onto the pitch for the visit of the Exiles and he has called on Jones to provide them guidance against Brian Smith's outfit.

Young's side have lost their opening two matches of the 2012-13 Aviva Premiership season and he has not shirked from making big calls ahead of their third match with England flanker James Haskell dropped to the bench. Springboks No.8 Ashley Johnson and Joe Launchbury come into the back-row with Haskell and Billy Vunipola dropping missing out. Young highlighted a need to improve their defence ahead of the match and this may be the reason behind the tactical move.

"London Irish present a potent attacking threat and we will need to step it up in defence to try and keep them out," Young said. "Like us, they are a new looking squad, still finding their feet but home games are vital in this league and we want to get off to a winning start at Adams Park."

Elsewhere at the weekend, Scotland winger Nikki Walker will make his debut for the Worcester Warriors while England duo Danny Care and Owen Farrell have earned recalls to the Harlequins and Saracens starting line ups respectively.

For a full rundown of the weekend's team news click here.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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