Wasps' Kurtley Beale to miss Aviva Premiership final

Beale will miss Saturday's Aviva Premiership final against Exeter at Twickenham after suffering a hamstring injury during last weekend's play-off victory over Leicester.

The Australia full-back, who returns to play Down Under this summer, has delivered a number of brilliant displays for Wasps this season.

Wasps rugby director Dai Young has handed the number 15 shirt to South Africa international star Willie Le Roux, who has excelled in that position many times for the Springboks.

Le Roux switches from the wing, with Josh Bassett, who scored the winning try two minutes from time against Leicester, gaining a start.

Wasps, in their first Premiership final for nine years and seeking a fifth title, also field British and Irish Lions squad members Elliot Daly and James Haskell, while scrum-half Dan Robson replaces Joe Simpson.

Reflecting on Le Roux's positional move, Young said: "He's not a bad 15 is he, really?"Willie went there in the semi-final when Kurtley went off and I thought he played very well there.

"He switched from the open (side) to blind (side) to make the extra number for the (winning) try."

Wasps have won the Premiership on all four of their previous Twickenham visits, but they will face an Exeter side unbeaten in the league since October.

When the teams last met, a thrilling game ended 35-35, while they also finished the 22-game regular Premiership season level on 84 points.

"I think we will have two sides who really want to play rugby and want to take the game to each other," Young added.

"The (forecast) heat means it could all be made for running rugby, but whoever makes the fewest mistakes has a real chance.

"Exeter are the best side in the league when it comes to the driving maul and they are fantastic at converting opportunities in the (opposition) 22. So if they spend a lot of time in our 22 then it could be a tough day for us."

Since Wasps last won the Premiership title, when Lawrence Dallaglio captained them to victory over Leicester, they have endured a rollercoaster ride.

Wasps narrowly avoided relegation in 2012 but they regrouped, made a successful ground move to Coventry's Ricoh Arena, and once again feature regularly in the fight for European and domestic honours.

"The final is new territory for this group of players, but really exciting territory and something our players and coaches can't wait to be involved in," Young said."It's a big day for the whole squad, who deserve to be in the final after the consistency they've shown to finish top of the table, and they have a fantastic opportunity ahead of them.

"As much as we are going to enjoy it, we want more than that. We are not there to make up the numbers, we are there to give absolutely everything we have to try to win the trophy.

"It is just another 80 minutes of rugby in which we are determined to do ourselves justice and to produce a performance we can all be proud of.

"Saturday is about more than the match-day 23 lucky enough to wear the shirt. It will be about the entire squad, every player who has played their part this season to get us to Twickenham.

"Some boys have been unlucky to get injured towards the back end of the season, and our match-day squad will be playing as much for them as for themselves and our fans.

"We have a lot of respect for Exeter, who are a quality team and a quality club. We've had some memorable battles over the past couple of seasons and know how well-drilled and coached they are, so we will have to be at our absolute best to get the win.

"Produce our best and I know we are a match for anyone."