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Saracens get stuck into Premiership survival bid as they roll out the big guns for Bath
By Online Editors
Saracens’ remaining three England players who have yet to feature this season have all been included in Mark McCall’s XV to face Bath on Friday night.
Fresh from accepting Premiership Rugby’s £5.34million fine and a 35-points deduction, the Londoners are now bottom of the league, 26 points adrift of eleventh-place Leicester.
However, they are looking to put every effort into closing that gap over the winter, starting at the Rec with the inclusion of England World Cup skipper Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola.
The trio have all been handed starting roles for the match, with Jamie George also earning a maiden start of the campaign after he came off the bench in last weekend’s European rout of Ospreys.
Farrell partners Richard Wigglesworth at half-back, while Elliot Daly is in line for his league debut for his new club at full-back after already making an appearance in Europe.
(Continue reading below...)
Sean Maitland is the only other amendment to the backline that began the victory over Ospreys in the Heineken Champions Cup, meaning a midfield of captain Brad Barritt and Duncan Taylor remains.
It’s the same at lock where Will Skelton and George Kruis pack down behind props Mako Vunipola and Titi Lamositele. No8 Billy Vunipola’s inclusion sees Jackson Wray switch to the flank.
Saracens (v Bath, Friday)
Elliot Daly; Sean Maitland, Duncan Taylor, Brad Barritt (capt), Alex Lewington; Owen Farrell, Richard Wigglesworth; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Titi Lamositele, Will Skelton, George Kruis, Maro Itoje, Jackson Wray, Billy Vunipola. Reps: Jack Singleton, Richard Barrington, Vincent Koch, Nick Isiekwe, Ben Earl, Ben Spencer, Manu Vunipola, Nick Tompkins.
WATCH: Former Saracens player Jim Hamilton discusses the salary cap scandal surrounding his former club
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Latest Comments
If the Welsh players cannot be bothered to get themselves.fit, for what is essentially their full time job and their country, then there is no hope for them.
Most of their forwards were huffing and puffing within 15 minutes!
Go to commentsFor the sake of the game we must restrict the TMO to advising the ref only when called on to do so. Im sick to the back teeth of the endless interventions. With an inexperienced whistler like the bloke this morning, the TMO ran the show.
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