Saracens v Gloucester: Teams
Saracens have made six changes for the mouth-watering clash with Gloucester at Vicarage Road.
Last Updated: 30/12/11 4:22pm
Saracens have made six changes for the mouth-watering clash with Gloucester at Vicarage Road.
Sarries edged out the Cherry and Whites in the Premiership play-off semi-finals last season en route to the title, while they won 19-17 at Kingsholm earlier in the season.
And despite a run of high-profile games, director of rugby Mark McCall has resisted the urge to make wholesale changes to his line-up.
Jamie George, Matt Stevens, Mouritz Botha and Jackson Wray have been added to the pack, while Chris Wyles and Adam Powell come into the back division.
Schalk Brits, Carlos Nieto, Owen Farrell and John Smit are among those named on the bench, but winger David Strettle misses out with a shoulder injury.
In contrast, Gloucester boss Bryan Redpath has named an unchanged starting XV for the trip to the defending champions.
Gloucester toppled Wasps 39-10 last time out on Boxing Day, with Redpath keen to build on that display.
The only change to the match-day squad comes on the bench, with Matias Cortese replacing Darren Dawidiuk as back-up hooker.
"We'll go down to Watford with the underdog tag because Saracens are a very good side and you can't hide from that," said Redpath.
"They're very strong defensively and have good tactical kickers but we have to try and impose our game on them as well. We can't go down there with a fear factor, we have to go there with nothing to lose and try to challenge them."
Saracens:15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Wyles, 13 Adam Powell, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 James Short, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Peter Stringer, 1 Rhys Gill, 2 Jamie George, 3 Matt Stevens, 4 Steve Borthwick (c), 5 Mouritz Botha, 6 Kelly Brown, 7 Andy Saull, 8 Jackson Wray
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 John Smit, 18 Carlos Nieto, 19 George Kruis, 20 Justin Melck, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Duncan Taylor
Gloucester: 15 Olly Morgan, 14 Jonny May, 13 Henry Trinder, 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 James Simpson-Daniel, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Rory Lawson, 1 Nick Wood, 2 Scott Lawson, 3 Rupert Harden, 4 Peter Buxton, 5 Jim Hamilton, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 7 Akapusi Qera, 8 Luke Narraway (capt).
Replacements: 16 Matias Cortese, 17 Dan Murphy, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 Brett Deacon, 20 Matt Cox, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Ryan Mills, 23 Charlie Sharples