Saracens v Wasps: Aviva premiership preview
Last Updated: 14/02/16 8:43pm
Saracens welcome back club captain Alistair Hargreaves for Sunday's Premiership clash with Wasps.
Hargreaves returns to partner Jim Hamilton, with Hayden Smith reverting to the bench. Elsewhere in the pack, Michael Rhodes rotates with Jackson Wray to return after a week break to start at blindside flanker, and will start alongside Samu Vunisa at No 8 and Jacques Burger at openside flanker. Will Fraser comes back into the squad to start on the bench.
At scrum-half, Ben Spencer rotates with Richard Wigglesworth to make his seventh Premiership appearance of the season. Charlie Hodgson continues at fly-half with Nils Mordt names among the replacements. At centre, Brad Barritt will continue in the number the 12 jersey and will partner Nick Tompkins in the Sarries midfield.
For Wasps, Elliot Daly starts at 13 having returned from England camp this week, while co-captain Matt Mullan will be ready to come off the bench to join the front row.
George Smith skippers the side and is joined in the back row by Nathan Hughes and Thomas Young.
The match represents a significant occasion for the Piutau brothers who will play their first game of professional rugby together. All Black Charles has returned to fitness to start at full back, while Tonga international Siale makes his first start for Wasps in the centre.
Ruaridh Jackson, back from Scotland duty, and Dan Robson form the half back combination, while Christian Wade and Josh Bassett provide the flying firepower on the wing.
"We just got over the line last weekend against Newcastle and know we will need to up our game this Saturday against the league leaders," said Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young.
"Saracens are the form team not only in England but also in Europe, having only lost one game all season. They are really accurate and efficient in everything they do and excel at pressurising the opposition into making mistakes. It's essential to match their accuracy and minimise errors.
Saracens: 15 Marcelo Bosch, 14 Mike Ellery, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Ben Spencer, 1 Richard Barrington, 2 Schalk Brits, 3 Petrus Du Plessis, 4 Jim Hamilton, 5 Alistair Hargreaves (c), 6 Michael Rhodes, 7 Jacques Burger, 8 Samu Vunisa.
Replacements: 16 Jared Saunders, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Titi Lamositele, 19 Hayden Smith, 20 Will Fraser, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Nils Mordt, 23 Ben Ransom
Wasps: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Christian Wade,13 Elliot Daly,12 Siale Piutau,11 Josh Bassett,10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Dan Robson; 1 Simon McIntyre, 2 Ashley Johnson, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 4 James Cannon, 5 Kearnan Myall, 6 Thomas Young, 7 George Smith (c), 8 Nathan Hughes.
Replacements: 16 Carlo Festuccia, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Phil Swainston, 19 Will Rowlands, 20 Alex Rieder, 21 Jamie Stevenson, 22 Jimmy Gopperth, 23 Rob Miller.