Wasps v Saracens: Aviva Premiership preview
Last Updated: 08/03/15 1:44pm
Wasps' unbeaten record in the Premiership at the Ricoh Arena will come under serious threat when they host Saracens on Sunday.
Matt Mullan will lead out Wasps, which sees Tom Lindsay start at hooker. Injuries to Carlo Festuccia and Edd Shervington mean Ashley Johnson will start on the blindside flank, but provide cover at hooker, where he has already featured for Wasps this season and previously for the Cheetahs. Ed Jackson and Guy Thompson provide back row options on the bench.
Bradley Davies returns from the Welsh camp to start in the second row alongside James Gaskell, with Kearnan Myall on the bench. Lorenzo Cittadini, back after Italy's win over Scotland, takes up the tight-head berth.
Sailosi Tagicakibau runs out on the left wing, while Christian Wade stays on the right. Andrea Masi returns from the leg injury suffered against Newcastle two weeks ago to provide cover at full back and centre.
Saracens have included returning England trio Alex Goode, Mako Vunipola and Richard Wigglesworth in their starting line-up. Goode starts at No.10 and partners Richard Wigglesworth with Brad Barritt continuing to line-up alongside Marcelo Bosch at centre.
Scotland international lock forward Jim Hamilton also comes into the side to partner Saracens captain Alistair Hargreaves in the second row. Fresh from a Man of the Match performance against the Newcastle Falcons, Maro Itoje retains a place in the Saracens starting XV, with the England Saxons international starting the game at blindside flanker. Jacques Burger continues at openside flanker, to join Jackson Wray who starts at No8.
With David Strettle rested, Chris Wyles starts on the left wing whilst Chris Ashton returns to the side to wear the number 14 jersey. Ben Ransom continues at full-back.
Wasps: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 James Downey, 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Joe Simpson; 1 Matt Mullan (c), 2 Tom Lindsay, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 4 Bradley Davies, 5 James Gaskell, 6 Ashley Johnson, 7 Thomas Young, 8 Nathan Hughes.
Replacements: 16 Simon McIntyre, 17 Phil Swainston, 18 Kearnan Myall, 19 Ed Jackson, 20 Guy Thompson, 21 Piri Weepu, 22 Alex Lozowski, 23 Andrea Masi.
Saracens: 15 Ben Ransom, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Alex Goode, 9 Richard Wigglesworth; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Petrus Du Plessis, 4 Jim Hamilton, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 6 Maro Itoje, 7 Jacques Burger, 8 Jackson Wray.
Replacements: 16 Jared Saunders, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Ernst Joubert, 20 Matt Hankin, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Nils Mordt, 23 Tim Streather.