TEAM NEWS | Saracens Men v Harlequins
Captain Mako Vunipola has described Sunday’s match as one of the biggest of the season as Saracens prepare to welcome local rivals Harlequins to StoneX Stadium.
One of the oldest rivalries in the Gallagher Premiership will enter another chapter this weekend, with both sides currently in the top four and needing a victory to maintain their semi-final push.
There are two changes to the starting XV from the side that emphatically beat Bath last Saturday, with a very settled team chosen to take on the current champions.
Vunipola will be skipper at loosehead, with double try-scorer from last week Tom Woolstencroft at hooker and Vincent Koch at tighthead.
Callum Hunter-Hill returns to the second-row to partner Tim Swinson, with Theo McFarland moving to the back-row alongside Ben Earl and Billy Vunipola.
In-form pair Ivan van Zyl and Manu Vunipola will maintain their half-back partnership, while Dom Morris and Alex Lozowski also remain in the midfield.
Rotimi Segun is back on the left wing, with new centurion Sean Maitland on the right and Alex Goode at full-back.
On the bench Jackson Wray returns after a six week lay-off, and centre Josh Hallett could make his first Premiership appearance of the season.
Vunipola says Sarries need to build on their win over Bath when Quins head across London on Sunday.
“Whenever we face each other it is always one of the biggest games of the season and this will be no different.
They have a habit of scoring late on in games so we need to be at it for the whole 80 minutes, and if we can get on the right side of the result we will be in a very strong position in the table.”
Saracens Men team to play Harlequins:
1 Mako Vunipola (c)
2 Tom Woolstencroft
3 Vincent Koch
4 Callum Hunter-Hill
5 Tim Swinson
6 Theo McFarland
7 Ben Earl
8 Billy Vunipola
9 Ivan van Zyl
10 Manu Vunipola
11 Rotimi Segun
12 Dom Morris
13 Alex Lozowski
14 Sean Maitland
15 Alex Goode
Replacements:
16 Ethan Lewis
17 Richard Barrington
18 Sam Wainwright
19 Andy Christie
20 Jackson Wray
21 Ruben de Haas
22 Josh Hallett
23 Alex Lewington
