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Saracens deploy 9 internationals in 27-man matchday line-up for Coventry
By Ian Cameron
Saracens will deploy nine internationals in their 27-man matchday team to host Coventry in the hope of landing their second pre-season win since being relegated from the Gallagher Premiership last Autumn.
England Saxon Alex Lewington, Scotland international Sean Maitland and veteran back row Jackson Wray all return to start in the home fixture at the StoneX Stadium.
Saracens bested Doncaster Knights 29 - 10 following two consecutive losses to Ealing Trailfinders in the Trailfinders Challenge Cup, a pre-season friendly competition ahead of the return of the Green King IPA Championship.
Callum Hunter-Hill remains at blindside for the fixture, with Andy Christie at No.8, while Wales scrumhalf Aled Davies partners with standoff Manu Vunipola at 9 and 10 respectively. Springbok Vincent Koch joins Richard Barrington and Tom Woolstencroft in a formidable front row. England U20s star Joel Kpoku joins Scotland's Tim Swinson in a heavyweight locking partnership.
Scotland centre Duncan Taylor and joins high flying Dom Morris in the centres, while Elliott Obatoyinbo starts at fullback.
The starting fifteen includes five Test internationals, with a further four on the bench in the shape of Kapeli Pifeleti, Will Hooley, Juan Pablo Socino and Eroni Mawi.
SARACENS TEAM:
15 Elliott Obatoyinbo
14 Alex Lewington
13 Dom Morris
12 Duncan Taylor
11 Sean Maitland
10 Manu Vunipola
9 Aled Davies
1 Richard Barrington
2 Tom Woolstencroft (CAPTAIN)
3 Vincent Koch
4 Joel Kpoku
5 Tim Swinson
6 Callum Hunter-Hill
7 Jackson Wray
8 Andy Christie
REPLACEMENTS:
16 Kapeli Pifeleti
17 Sam Crean
18 Josh Ibuanokpe
19 Ollie Stonham
20 Sean Reffell
21 Alex Day
22 Tom Whiteley
23 Juan Pablo Socino
Will Hooley (no number)
Ethan Benson (no number)
Ben Harris (no number)
Eroni Mawi (no number)
COVENTRY:
15 Louis Brown
14 Tom Emery
13 Rob Knox
12 Tony Fenner
11 Callum Sirker
10 Kieran Wilkinson
9 Josh Barton
1 Luc Jeannot
2 Nic Dolly
3 James Harper
4 Nile Dacres
5 Alex Woolford
6 Sam Lewis
7 Ben Nutley
8 Ryan Burrows (capt)
REPLACEMENTS
Suva Ma’asi, Toby Trinder, Phil Boulton, Cameron Jordan, Adam Peters, Senitiki Nayalo, Pete White, Dan Lewis, Will Owen, Andy Forsyth, Louis James, Tom Hudson
Kick-off is 3pm.
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wel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
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