Gloucester v Saracens: Teams
Teenage scrum-half Dave Lewis is to start for Gloucester while Saracens welcome back Richard Haughton.
Last Updated: 03/01/09 1:06pm
Teenage scrum-half Dave Lewis has been rewarded for a sparkling second-half display against Bristol with a place in the starting XV against Saracens.
The 19-year-old caught the eye with a superb display off the bench in the 29-10 victory, so will now replace Rory Lawson in the line-up.
Lawson drops to the bench in the only change to the back line, while Adam Eustace returns to the pack having been sidelined since November.
And Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan is expecting a tough test of his side's title credentials.
"Saracens are capable of generating some big results, as they showed against London Irish last weekend," said Ryan.
"They are an emerging and progressive side and will be coming here with a bit of confidence. They are no doubt heading in the right direction and have a good level of experience in key areas.
"But we were pleased with the result at Bristol. It was a bit cagey when we sat at 10-3 ahead but we were hugely enthusiastic to chase four tries and were massively energised. Momentum was the key then and it will be tomorrow.
"We are still learning from the Irish game and the feeling that gave us and we need to see another reaction tomorrow.
"Hopefully we have got some answers for a different sort of opposition tomorrow and we obviously want to produce another performance we can build on."
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Saracens director of rugby Eddie Jones is looking for his side to build on their performance against London Irish.
Sarries edged out the Exiles 16-13 to close the gap on the top five - and Jones wants a similar display.
"It was a good all-round team performance against London Irish last weekend and we're looking for that to continue against Gloucester," said Jones.
"We had a a very close game against Gloucester earlier in the season at Vicarage Road when Dean Ryan's side capitalised on our mistakes and turnover ball. That is something we will have to learn from as we head to Kingsholm.
"They are a very good side who like to run the ball and punish your mistakes so we have to go there and improve on our performance last week if we are to get the result we want."
Jones welcomes back Richard Haughton after three months out with a foot injury while Andy Farrell returns to the starting team to captain the side.
Hugh Vyvyan also starts with Steve Borthwick rested as part of the EPS agreement, with Neil de Kock and Matias Aguero both fit again.
Gloucester: 15 Olly Morgan, 14 Matthew Watkins, 13 Mike Tindall (c), 12 Olly Barkley, 11 Lesley Vainikolo, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Dave Lewis, 8 Luke Narraway, 7 Apo Satala, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Alex Brown, 4 Adam Eustace, 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Olivier Azam, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Andy Titterrell, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Marco Bortolami, 19 Dan Williams, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Willie Walker, 22 Mark Foster.
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Kameli Ratuvou, 13 Kevin Sorrell, 12 Andy Farrell (c), 11 Richard Haughton, 10 Glen Jackson, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Michael Owen, 7 Wikus van Heerden, 6 Ben Skirving, 5 Chris Jack, 4 Hugh Vyvyan, 3 Tom Mercey, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Matias Aguero.
<1>Replacements:1> 16 Andy Kyriacou, 17 Nick Lloyd, 18 Cobus Visagie, 19 Andy Saull, 20 Moses Rauluni, 21 Adam Powell, 22 Noah Cato.