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Saracens roll out the big guns for Cardiff, including Owen Farrell
By Kim Ekin
Saracens have made nine changes to their starting XV to host Cardiff in this Sunday's Challenge Cup round of 16 tie in London, Owen Farrell skippering a team that includes the recalled Maro Itoje, Max Malins and Sean Maitland. Mark McCall's side cut Brive to ribbons in France last weekend, running up a 55-5 win to progress to the knockout stages of the second-tier European competition.
Fit-again England skipper Farrell was in the vanguard of that eight tries to one success and he will now lead Saracens out again at home this weekend in what will be his third match on the comeback trail since the two ankle operations that sidelined him for four months.
Farrell takes his place in a Saracens backline showing four changes from their French trip, Malins and Maitland taking over on the wings from Alex Lewington and Rotimi Segun. Dom Morris comes into the midfield in place of Elliot Daly with Aled Davies starting at scrum-half for Ivan van Zyl.
There are five changes to the pack, most notably the inclusion of England talisman Itoje instead of his Test colleague Nick Isiekwe. Richard Barrington is at loosehead for Eroni Mawi, Kapeli Pifeleti at hooker for Tom Woolstencroft, Tim Swinson at lock for Theo McFarland and in the back row, Ben Earl starts this week instead of the benched Billy Vunipola.
Fellow back-rower Andy Christie said: “Cardiff are a strong side who have a lot of big names in their team. I’m excited about it, I’ve never played against them but hopefully, we’re on it like we were last week. We’re looking for consistent performance for 80 minutes and whenever there is a trophy on the line it goes without saying that you want to win.”
SARACENS (vs Cardiff, Sunday)
1 Richard Barrington
2 Kapeli Pifeleti
3 Alec Clarey
4 Maro Itoje
5 Tim Swinson
6 Andy Christie
7 Ben Earl
8 Jackson Wray
9 Aled Davies
10 Owen Farrell (capt)
11 Max Malins
12 Duncan Taylor
13 Dom Morris
14 Sean Maitland
15 Alex Goode
Replacements:
16 Ethan Lewis
17 Eroni Mawi
18 Sam Wainwright
19 Theo McFarland
20 Billy Vunipola
21 Ivan van Zyl
22 Manu Vunipola
23 Rotimi Según
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It certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to commentsHis best years were 2018 and he wasn't good enough to win the World Cup in 2023! (Although he was voted as the best player in the world in 2023)
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