TEAM NEWS | Gloucester v Saracens Men (GPR - Rd 15)

Alex Lewington is incredibly proud as he becomes the latest player to enter the Saracens 100 Club when the Men in Black take on Gloucester at Kingsholm on Friday night.

The winger will lead the team out as he brings up a century of appearances for the North Londoners in a huge match to open the New Year.

There are six changes to the side that dominated Exeter Chiefs on New Year’s Eve, with two alterations to the pack and four to the back-line.

Hugh Tizard and Ben Earl return to the pack, there are first starts of the season for Aled Davies and Duncan Taylor, whilst Lewington and Alex Lozowski are also back in the XV.

Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and Marco Riccioni continue in a well-functioning front-row which showed their form last weekend, whilst Tizard is back to partner Maro Itoje in the second-row.

Andy Christie, Earl and Billy Vunipola complete a familiar back-row which will have a big challenge at the breakdown against the Cherry and Whites.

Scrum-half Davies is alongside captain Owen Farrell in the number 10 shirt, and there is a midfield combination of Taylor and Lozowski for the trip to the West Country.

Centurion Lewington is on the left wing, with Max Malins on the right and Alex Goode at full-back.

On the bench there is another opportunity for young hooker Theo Dan, and Rotimi Segun returns to the match day squad for the first time this season.

Lewington says it will be a special moment to make his 100th appearance on Friday night.

“Reaching 100 games for this club is something I’m incredibly proud of. The best thing about it has been the brilliant players I’ve been lucky to play with along the way, and the amazing friendships I’ve made off the pitch.”

Saracens Men team to play Gloucester Rugby:

1 Mako Vunipola

2 Jamie George

3 Marco Riccioni

4 Maro Itoje

5 Hugh Tizard

6 Andy Christie

7 Ben Earl

8 Billy Vunipola

9 Aled Davies

10 Owen Farrell (c)

11 Alex Lewington

12 Duncan Taylor

13 Alex Lozowski

14 Max Malins

15 Alex Goode

Replacements:

16 Theo Dan

17 Eroni Mawi

18 Christian Judge

19 Nick Isiekwe

20 Jackson Wray

21 Ivan van Zyl

22 Josh Hallett

23 Rotimi Segun