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Saracens' Owen Farrell poised to make milestone appearance versus a nearly unchanged Harlequins
By Online Editors
Owen Farrell will make his 200th Saracens appearance this Saturday when Harlequins visit Allianz Park in the 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership. The fly-half made his maiden Sarries outing aged 17 and eleven days in 2008 – becoming the youngest player in English rugby history – and two seasons later he kicked 17 of 22 points as the club won their first-ever Premiership final.
He has since become an instrumental figure for club and country, helping the former to a further four league titles and three European crowns. England captain Farrell will form a half-back partnership with Wales international Aled Davies on his full Saracens debut.
Senior academy prop Sam Crean is set for his first Premiership appearance after earning his initial senior caps in the Premiership Rugby Cup and Heineken Champions Cup earlier this season.
After recently graduating into the senior squad, Elliott Obatoyinbo will wear a starting jersey in the league for the first time and his inclusion at full-back sees Sean Maitland switch back to the wing.
Dom Morris, who impressed in the round 14 loss at Bristol Bears, is joined in the midfield by returning skipper Brad Barritt. Scotland lock Tim Swinson, props Richard Barrington and Josh Ibuanokpe, scrum-half Tom Whiteley and fly-half Manu Vunipola all come on to the bench.
Meanwhile, Harlequins boss Paul Gustard has named an almost unchanged side from the team that claimed victory against Sale last Friday, with right wing Chris Ashton replaced by Aaron Morris in the 14 jersey. Ashton picked up a minor injury during training this week.
SARACENS: 15, Elliott Obatoyinbo; 14. Alex Lewington, 13. Dom Morris, 12. Brad Barritt,11. Sean Maitland; 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Aled Davies; 1. Sam Crean, 2. Jamie George, 3. Vincent Koch, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Callum Hunter-Hill, 6. Mike Rhodes, 7. Jackson Wray, 8. Billy Vunipola. Reps: 16. Tom Woolstencroft, 17. Richard Barrington, 18. Josh Ibuanokpe, 19. Tim Swinson, 20. Sean Reffell, 21. Tom Whiteley, 22. Juan Pablo Socino, 23. Manu Vunipola.
HARLEQUINS: 15. Mike Brown; 14. Aaron Morris, 13. Joe Marchant, 12. James Lang, 11, Nathan Earle; 10. Marcus Smith, 9 Martin Landajo. 1. Joe Marler, 2. Scott Baldwin, 3. Simon Kerrod, 4. Stephan Lewies, 5. Matt Symons, 6. James Chisholm, 7. Chris Robshaw (capt), 8. Alex Dombrandt. Reps: 16. Joe Gray, 17. Santiago Garcia Botta, 18. Will Collier, 19. Dino Lamb, 20. Tom Lawday, 21. Will Evans, 22. Scott Steele, 23. Paul Lasike.
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Latest Comments
My ‘fantasy’ team V Ireland,
Including options from ABXV if needed, as V Mun better V Ireland better prep than England.
The most important aspect V Ireland is AB need ALL their loosies AND 'loosie capable locks' on ALL match [except IF(?) any tiring ie the aging & slowing eg Cane]. As follows,
{starting} bench (3rd choice)
1 {De Groot} / Tu’ungafasi (Williams)
2 { anyone that can throw!! }/ Aumua (Brodie McAlister)
Ryan! coach lineouts & Aumua to throw!
3 {Lomax}/ Tosi (Newell )
Tosi immense strength V England
4,5 Locks { P.Tuipulotu, S.Barrett }, Vaa’i, Darry
( Isaia Walker-Leawere)
Vaa’i off V Eng. Assumed due to leg injury(?)
6,7,8 Loose forwards { Sititi, A.Savea, Cane } Vaa’i, S.Barrettm, P.Tuipulotu back up (Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi )
9 {Roigard } Ratima ( TJ )
10 {D.McK} Perofeta ( Plummer)
12 {J.Barrett } ALB ( Q.Tupaea )
13 {Proctor} Ioane ( AJ Lam )
Ioane (off V England ) but Irish experience (NO not Sexton!)
14 { Tele’a} Reece (bkup W.Jordan )
11 {C.Clarke} Narawa (K.Naholo)
15 {W.Jordan} Love (Stevenson)
Go to commentsI guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.
Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.
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