TEAM NEWS | Saracens Women vs Bristol Bears

Ella Wyrwas admits that her side are now “the team that everyone else wants to beat,” as they look to kick off their campaign in the Allianz Cup against Bristol on Sunday.

Last season ended in glorious fashion, as Saracens secured their third Premier15s title. However, now, the squad must regroup and go again.

With a large number of players away with their respective countries at the World Cup, the cup competition provides a perfect opportunity for others to step up in their absence. For Wyrwas, she is one of those players who has taken on a more senior role during pre-season.

“There’s a lot of us in the group who were considered as the young one’s last year. We now get the opportunity to take on some leadership roles and develop that side of the game,” she noted. “Then we’ve got some new, young players who have a real opportunity to grab that shirt for the cup and the prem games going forward.”

Several of those new faces are set to make their Saracens debuts this weekend, with summer signings Taryn Schutzler, Grace Moore, Abi Evans and Isla Alejandro all set to don the black shirt for the first time, in a squad that will be captained by Cara Wardle.

There are still a number of experienced heads in the squad, with the likes of Hannah Casey, May Campbell and captain Wardle in the starting XV, and club legend Rocky Clark poised to make an impact off of the bench.

For Wyrwas personally, it has also been an opportunity to develop her own leadership skills as well.

“It’s the part of the game that I need to improve on, so it’s been really good to get that opportunity and hopefully it’s something I can continue to develop once everyone is back.”

Whilst Bristol will no doubt prove to be tough opposition on Sunday, Wyrwas and the rest of the squad just want to concentrate on their own performance.

“We’re just staying focused and looking at the things we can control. The we’ll see where that takes us.”

Saracens Women team to play Bristol Bears: 

1 Jodie Turl

2 May Campbell

3 Kelsey Clifford

4 Fi Mcintosh

5 Sophie Tansley

6 Taryn Schutzler 

7 Sharifa Kosolo

8 Grace Moore

9 Ella Wyrwas

10 Kirsty Exley

11 Abi Evans

12 Cara Wardle (c)

13 Hannah Casey

14 Sydney Gregson

15 Isla Alejandro

Replacements: 

16 Chloe Flanagan

17 Rocky Clark

18 Mica Gooding

19 Sarah Bebbington

20 Abbie Picking

21 Anna Goddard

22 Lisa Martin 

23 Lucy Biggs