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Billy Vunipola on the verge of a return after arm break
By Online Editors
Billy Vunipola could make his first appearance of the season for Saracens after he was named on their bench to face Bristol Bears at Allianz Park on Saturday.
The number 8 re-fractured his arm while on tour with England in South Africa, when they lost the second Test 23-12 in Bloemfontein. Vunipola had previously spent four months on the sidelines having first broken his arm when playing for Saracens against Ospreys in a Champions Cup encounter in January, which forced him to miss the 2018 Natwest Six Nations.
Sione Vailanu will start at number 8, his first Gallagher Premiership match.
The Tongan, who featured off the bench at Newcastle Falcons last weekend, is one of five changes to the Saracens side that recorded a bonus-point win in the North East.
Two-try debutant Alex Lewington is picked on the wing with Matt Gallagher on the other flank after impressing in the Premiership Rugby Shield. Opening round starters Sean Maitland (dislocated finger) and David Strettle (head) miss out.
Ben Spencer has recovered from illness to play at scrum-half while Nick Isiekwe comes in at lock.
Juan Figallo (PCL) and Duncan Taylor (ACL) have been ruled out for lengthy periods.
Saracens side to face Bristol at Allianz Park on Saturday 8th September (15H00 KO):
15 Alex Goode
14 Matt Gallagher
13 Alex Lozowski
12 Brad Barritt ©
11 Alex Lewington
10 Owen Farrell
9 Ben Spencer
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Jamie George
3 Vincent Koch
4 Maro Itoje
5 Nick Isiekwe
6 Michael Rhodes
7 Jackson Wray
8 Sione Vailanu
16 Christopher Tolofua
17 Richard Barrington
18 Titi Lamositele
19 Will Skelton
20 Billy Vunipola
21 Richard Wigglesworth
22 Nick Tompkins
23 Liam Williams
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Latest Comments
I didn't mean to sound down on Dmac. Just looking hard at the bench sub's role of providing impact. I don't think he can do that at 15, and the bench is not really about injury cover anymore (you need to maximise it's use more than that).
He's my first choice of any New Zealander for the 10 jersey with the All Blacks.
Go to commentsAgreed. And I don't have much more to say on it, but I had been having one thought that sprang to mind at the tail of this discussion, and that is that it's not all about Razor.
It's not about any coach being "right". I think a lot of selections can become defense and while it doesn't really apply here I really enjoyed that Andy Farrell just gave into the public demands and changed out his team for the change that had been asked for. Like why not? This is the countries team, keep them engaged. The whole reason i've only just finished watching the game was because I wasn't interested in watching any of the selected players against a team like Italy (still actually enjoyed the first half with the contest Italy made of it).
Faz leap frogs a younger half back into start. He hands the golden child the game over July's golden child. He gives an old winger a go, a new flanker and hooker. None of them really did any good, certainly not enough to suggest they should have been promoted above others, but who cares? You won, and you gave the country what they wanted, that's all that matters after all. It's for the country, not the one in charge who thinks they have to have their own pied piper tune playing.
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