Planet Rugby

Preview: London Irish v Saracens

08th February 2013 12:46

Marland Yarde London Irish v Saracens AVP 2012

Big game for Exiles: Saracens visit Madejski Stadium

Scott Lawson, George Skivington and Ian Humphreys will all return to the London Irish starting line-up for Saturday's Premiership clash with Saracens at Madejski Stadium.

Lawson will be joined by Max Lahiff and Halani Aulika in the front row. George Skivington will partner Bryn Evans in the second row; the New Zealander will also captain the side. Ian Humphreys and Pat Phibbs will form the half-back combination.

Jonathan Joseph is a late withdrawal due to ankle injury, meaning Guy Armitage is moved to outside centre with Shane Geraghty starting at 12. Kieran Low comes onto the bench.

"It's great that we will be back playing at Madejski in front of our home crowd in such a big game," said London Irish Director of Rugby, Brian Smith.

"Saracens are a formidable team in the Aviva Premiership and Europe and they'll give us a thorough examination. In saying that, we don't fear any team in this league and the boys are itching to put in a big performance and hopefully get the result as well."

Meanwhile, Saracens welcome back David Strettle, Will Fraser, George Kruis, Duncan Taylor and Joel Tomkins from international action to start the game against the Exiles.

Steve Borthwick also returns to captain the side and forms a second row partnership with Alistair Hargreaves while Neil de Kock, Matt Stevens and John Smit are back in the starting line-up.

Alex Goode, Chris Ashton, Brad Barritt, Owen Farrell, Mako Vunipola and Kelly Brown miss the game on international duty.

Form: London Irish's 6-10 defeat in Cardiff in the Anglo-Welsh Cup on Friday ended a four game winning run in all competitions. The Exiles, however, remain the worst side in Aviva Premiership Rugby on current form, having obtained just six league points from their last half a dozen encounters. Saracens have won their last eight contests in all tournaments since their 9-15 reversal in Munster on 8 December. Sarries only away defeat in the Premiership since September was 3-12 at Worcester on 23 November. Saracens have taken the last four encounters between the two clubs.

Rugby Union betting odds

The teams:

London Irish: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Guy Armitage, 12 Shane Geraghty, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Pat Phibbs, 8 Chris Hala'ufia 7 Jebb Sinclair, 6 Matt Garvey, 5 Bryn Evans (Captain), 4 George Skivington, 3 Halani Aulika, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Max Lahiff.
Replacements: 16 Mike Mayhew, 17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 18Leo Halavatau, 19 Jamie Gibson, 20 Ofisa Treviranus, 21 Kieran Low, 22 Steven Shingler, 23 Jack Moates

Saracens: 15 Chris Wyles, 14 Joe Maddock, 13 Joel Tomkins, 12 Duncan Taylor, 11 David Strettle, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Will Fraser, 6 George Kruis, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steve Borthwick (c), 3 Matt Stevens, 2 John Smit, 1 Nick Auterac.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Petrus du Plessis, 19 Mouritz Botha, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Nils Mordt, 23 James Short.

Date: Saturday, February 9
Venue: Madejski Stadium
Kick-off: 15.00 GMT
Referee: Andrew Small

Comments

Be the first to comment on this story..


Character Count : 0/1900

Forthcoming Fixtures
FixtureDetails
All times are local
International Match
Sunday , May 26
England vs Barbarians13:00
More International Match fixtures
Aviva Premiership
Saturday , May 25
Leicester vs NorthamptonLeicester vs Northampton Preview
More Aviva Premiership fixtures
RaboDirect PRO12
Saturday , May 25
Ulster vs Leinster16:45
More RaboDirect PRO12 fixtures
Top 14
Friday , May 24
Toulon vs ToulouseToulon vs Toulouse Preview
Saturday , May 25
Clermont Auvergne vs Castres16:30
More Top 14 fixtures
Super Rugby
Friday , May 24
Chiefs vs CrusadersChiefs vs Crusaders Preview
Melbourne Rebels vs WaratahsMelbourne Rebels vs Waratahs Preview
Saturday , May 25
Blues vs Brumbies08:35
Western Force vs Highlanders10:40
Southern Kings vs Cheetahs16:00
Stormers vs Reds16:05
Sharks vs Bulls18:10
More Super Rugby fixtures
Recent Results
FixtureDetails
All times are local
Heineken Cup
Saturday , May 18
Clermont Auvergne 15 - 16 ToulonClermont Auvergne vs Toulon Report
More Heineken Cup results
Super Rugby
Crusaders 23 - 3 BluesCrusaders vs Blues Report
Bulls 35 - 18 HighlandersBulls vs Highlanders Report
Waratahs 28 - 22 BrumbiesWaratahs vs Brumbies Report
Cheetahs 27 - 13 RedsCheetahs vs Reds Report
More Super Rugby results
Amlin Challenge Cup
Friday , May 17
Stade Francais 13 - 34 LeinsterStade Francais vs Leinster Report
More Amlin Challenge Cup results
Super Rugby
Hurricanes 12 - 17 ChiefsHurricanes vs Chiefs Report
Melbourne Rebels 30 - 21 StormersMelbourne Rebels vs Stormers Report
Western Force 13 - 23 SharksWestern Force vs Sharks Report
More Super Rugby results
Aviva Premiership
Sunday , May 12
Saracens 13 - 27 NorthamptonSaracens vs Northampton Report
Saturday , May 11
Leicester 33 - 16 HarlequinsLeicester vs Harlequins Report
More Aviva Premiership results
RaboDirect PRO12
Leinster 17 - 15 GlasgowLeinster vs Glasgow Report
More RaboDirect PRO12 results
Top 14
Castres 25 - 12 MontpellierCastres vs Montpellier Report
More Top 14 results
Super Rugby
Blues 36 - 32 Melbourne RebelsBlues vs Melbourne Rebels Report
Southern Kings 34 - 27 HighlandersSouthern Kings vs Highlanders Report
Waratahs 21 - 15 StormersWaratahs vs Stormers Report
More Super Rugby results
RaboDirect PRO12
Friday , May 10
Ulster 28 - 17 ScarletsUlster vs Scarlets Report
More RaboDirect PRO12 results
Top 14
Stade Francais 19 - 16 Racing Metro Paris
Toulouse 33 - 19 Racing Metro ParisToulouse vs Racing Metro Paris Report
More Top 14 results
Super Rugby
Chiefs 22 - 21 Western ForceChiefs vs Western Force Report
Reds 32 - 17 SharksReds vs Sharks Report
Cheetahs 34 - 39 HurricanesCheetahs vs Hurricanes Report
Sunday , May 5
Brumbies 23 - 30 CrusadersBrumbies vs Crusaders Report
More Super Rugby results
Aviva Premiership
Saturday , May 4
Leicester 32 - 20 London IrishLeicester vs London Irish Report
Exeter 40 - 39 GloucesterExeter vs Gloucester Report
More Aviva Premiership results