Sarries v Gloucester: Teams
Saracens will be unchanged for their home Premiership clash with Gloucester on Sunday.
Last Updated: 21/09/07 3:27pm
Saracens will be unchanged for their Guinness Premiership clash with Gloucester at Vicarage Road on Sunday.
Director of rugby Alan Gaffney has opted to stick with the same XV who started last weekend's surprise 29-19 victory over champions Wasps.
He does make one change on the replacements bench, with new recruit Craig McMullen coming into the 22.
The fly-half joined Sarries this week on a short-term deal to cover for injuries to Glen Jackson and Brent Russell.
"What pleased me about the performance against Wasps was the way we showed a great deal of patience and composure," said Gaffney.
"It was a performance that had passion and teamwork. There's no doubt there are areas in which we need to improve but the boys stepped up to the mark and deserved the result. We'll need to do the same against Gloucester on Sunday.
"Gloucester had an impressive win in the opening round against Leeds and Dean Ryan has recruited well in the summer months - adding to what was already a strong squad. They have a powerful and experienced pack along with a talented backline which, by and large, has played together for several seasons. It's going to be a very tough game."
First appearance
Former Sale hooker Andy Titterrell makes his first appearance for the Cherry-and-Whites, taking over from Olivier Azam, who drops to the bench.
Titterrell will be joined in the front row by Nick Wood, who comes in for Patrice Collazo as coach Dean Ryan shuffles the pack after the 49-24 victory over Leeds.
"I don't think it's hard to make changes in this squad," said Ryan. "We recognise the group is more than 15 players and the quality of the group is more than 15 players which is very important to us.
"The season is nine months long we will make changes which aren't necessarily on selection and form but are when there are people as good to come into the position."
Wood and Titterrell will be joined in the front row with Carlos Nieto, while Peter Buxton will partner Alex Brown at lock.
Alasdair Strokosch comes in on the blindside flank and will partner Andy Hazell with Luke Narraway at number eight.
Saracens team: 15 Dan Scarbrough, 14 Rodd Penney, 13 Kevin Sorrell, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Francisco Leonelli, 10 Gordon Ross, 9 Neil de Kock, 1 Nick Lloyd, 2 Matt Cairns, 3 Tom Mercey, 4 Tom Ryder, 5 Hugh Vyvyan, 6 Kris Chesney, 7 Richard Hill, 8 Ben Skirving
Replacements: 16 Andy Kyriacou, 17 Kevin Yates, 18 Iain Fullarton, 19 David Seymour, 20 Alan Dickens, 21 Craig McMullen, 22 Edd Thrower
Gloucester team: 15 Iain Balshaw; 14 James Simpson-Daniel, 13 Leon Lloyd, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Lesley Vainikolo; 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Mike Prendergast; 1 Nick Wood, 2 Andy Titterrell, 3 Carlos Nieto, 4 Peter Buxton (capt), 5 Alex Brown, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 7 Andy Hazell, 8 Luke Narraway.
Replacements: 16 Olivier Azam, 17 Christian Califano, 18 Jonathan Pendlebury, 19 Adam Balding, 20 Dave Lewis, 21 Willie Walker, 22 Olly Morgan.