Saturday's Premiership team news: Chris Robshaw starts for Harlequins

Image: Chris Robshaw signed a contract extension with Quins earlier this week

There are four Aviva Premiership fixtures on Saturday including the double header at Twickenham Stadium.

Saracens face Dean Ryan's Worcester in the first of two matches at the home of English rugby, with London Irish taking on Wasps at 5.30pm.

Before that Newcastle travel to Sale and Exeter host Challenge Cup flyers Harlequins at Sandy Park.

Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons (2.30pm)

Image: Marcus Watson makes his Premiership debut for the Falcons

Marcus Watson makes his first Aviva Premiership start for Newcastle at the AJ Bell Stadium as the Falcons make five changes to the team that brushed aside Enisei STM in the Challenge Cup.

Advertisement

A wealth of experience returns to the side with four new faces in the backs and one in the pack adding 84 international caps to the team.

Danny Cipriani, skipper Dan Braid, Vadim Cobilas and Sam Tuitupou are all named in Sale's starting line-up, while Eifion Lewis Roberts could make his first appearance of the season if introduced from the bench.

Also See:

Sale: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Tom Arscott, 13 Sam James, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Will Addison, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Chris Cusiter; 1 Ross Harrison, 2 Tommy Taylor, 3 Vadim Cobilas, 4 Bryn Evans, 5 Jonathan Mills, 6 Dan Braid (c), 7 Magnus Lund, 8 Josh Beaumont.

Replacements: 16 Cameron Neild, 17 Eifion Lewis Roberts, 18 Brian Mujati, 19 Andrei Ostrikov, 20 TJ Ioane, 21 Peter Stringer, 22 Joe Ford, 23 Mark Jennings.

Newcastle: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Giovanbattista Venditti, 13 Adam Powell, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Marcus Watson, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Michael Young; 1 Rob Vickers, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Jon Welsh, 4 Calum Green, 5 Sean Robinson, 6 Mark Wilson, 7 Will Welch (c), 8 Nili Latu.

Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Alex Rogers, 18 Taione Vea, 19 Mouritz Botha, 20 Ally Hogg, 21 Ruki Tipuna, 22 Tom Catterick, 23 Chris Harris.

Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins (3pm)

Image: Mike Brown reaches 250 appearances for Quins this weekend

England full-back Mike Brown will make his 250th appearance for Harlequins at Sandy Park while captain Danny Care and Nick Evans return at half-back.

Exeter recall Dave Ewers, Thomas Waldrom and Mitch Lees to the pack while Gareth Steenson starts at fly-half, with Henry Slade moving into midfield.

Highlights of Exeter's impressive Champions Cup win over Bordeaux-Begles

Exeter: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 James Short, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Will Chudley; 1 Ben Moon, 2 Jack Yeandle (c), 3 Moray Low, 4 Mitch Lees, 5 Damian Welch, 6 Dave Ewers, 7 Don Armand, 8 Thomas Waldrom.

Replacements: 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Alex Brown, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 Tom Johnson, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Sam Hill, 23 Olly Woodburn.

Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Charlie Walker, 13 George Lowe, 12 Harry Sloan, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care (c); 1 Joe Marler, 2 Rob Buchanan, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 James Horwill, 5 Sam Twomey, 6 Chris Robshaw, 7 Dave Ward, 8 Nick Easter.

Replacements: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Will Collier, 19 Charlie Matthews, 20 Kieran Treadwell, 21 Tito Tebaldi, 22 Tim Swiel, 23 Matt Hopper.

Saracens v Worcester Warriors (3.15pm)

Image: Ernst Joubert will play his last game of professional rugby at Twickenham

Ernst Joubert makes his final professional appearance for Saracens when he lines up against Worcester at Twickenham.

The 35-year-old has announced his retirement as he makes his 161st appearance for the club. Alistair Hargreaves captains the side from the second row where he partners George Kruis.

Ryan Lamb takes his place on the bench for Worcester as Tome Heathcote is handed the No 10 jersey, with Ryan Mills and Wynand Olivier pairing up in midfield.

Highlights of Saracens' bonus-point win at Ulster in the Champions Cup

Saracens: 15 Ben Ransom, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Ben Spencer; 1 Rhys Gill, 2 Schalk Brits, 3 Juan Figallo, 4 George Kruis, 5 Alistair Hargreaves (c), 6 Kelly Brown, 7 Will Fraser, 8 Ernst Joubert.

Replacements: 16 Jared Saunders, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Titi Lamositele, 19 Maro Itoje, 20 Samulea Vunisa, 21 Neil De Kock, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Nick Tompkins.

Worcester: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Jonny Arr; 1 Na'ama Leleimalefaga, 2 Niall Annett, 3 Nick Schonert, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 5 Darren Barry, 6 Phil Dowson, 7 Sam Betty, 8 GJ van Velze.

Replacements: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Val Rapava Ruskin, 18 Joe Rees, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Matt Cox, 21 Charlie Mulchrone, 22 Ryan Lamb, 23 Ben Howard.

London Irish v Wasps (5.30pm)

Image: Ben Franks returns to Twickenham four weeks after winning the World Cup

Ben Franks makes his Aviva Premiership debut on Saturday afternoon when he lines up in the Exiles front row against Wasps at Twickenham. It will be the New Zealander's first trip to Twickenham since winning the World Cup final on 31 October.

Fellow prop Tom Smallbone, who this week extended his contract with Irish, takes his place on the bench.

James Haskell captains Wasps on his 100th Premiership appearance for the club. He joins No 8 Nathan Hughes in the back row along with Thomas Young, with George Smith rested for the clash.

Bradley Davies returns from illness to take a place on the bench while Joe Launchbury misses out after picking up a hamstring strain.

With Carlo Festuccia fracturing his cheekbone against Toulon, Ashley Johnson starts at hooker.

Highlights of Wasps' bonus-point win over Toulon last Sunday

London Irish: 15 Topsy Ojo, 14 Alex Lewington, 13 Aseli Tikoirotuma, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Tom Fowlie, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Scott Steele, 1 Tom Court, 2 David Paice, 3 Ben Franks, 4 Eoin Sheriff, 5 Matt Symons (c), 6 Joe Trayfoot, 7 Blair Cowan, 8 Ofisa Treviranus.

Replacements: 16 Gerard Ellis, 17 Tom Smallbone, 18 Leo Halavatau, 19 Jebb Sinclair, 20 Luke Narraway, 21 Darren Allinson, 22 Theo Brophy-Clews, 23 Fergus Mulchrone.

Wasps: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Ben Jacobs, 11 Frank Halai, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Joe Simpson, 1 Matt Mullan, 2 Ashley Johnson, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 4 James Gaskell, 5 Kearnan Myall, 6 James Haskell (c), 7 Thomas Young, 8 Nathan Hughes.

Replacements: 16 Edd Shervington, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Bradley Davies, 20 Sam Jones, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Jimmy Gopperth, 23 Brendan Macken.

Outbrain