Preview: Zebre v Saracens

Editor

Mark McCall has recalled Scotland centre Duncan Taylor to his starting line-up to take on Zebre in the Heineken Cup on Saturday.

Mark McCall has recalled Scotland centre Duncan Taylor to his starting line-up to take on Zebre in the Heineken Cup on Saturday.

Wingers Chris Ashton and David Strettle start alongside Alex Goode in the Saracens back three at Stade XXV Aprile, whilst Charlie Hodgson plays at fly-half.

Neil de Kock starts his 27th Heineken Cup game for the club at scrum-half, with Richard Wigglesworth deputising on the bench.

In the pack, James Johnston starts his first Heineken Cup game for the club, alongside Schalk Brits and Richard Barrington (who is making his European debut as a player) starting at loosehead prop.

Last week's match winner George Kruis partners captain Steve Borthwick at second-row, with Kelly Brown and Billy Vunipola returning to the side in the place of Jackson Wray and the injured Will Fraser – they partner Ernst Joubert, who starts at number eight.

Meanwhile, there are three changes to the Zebre starting lineup that fell to defeat against Ulster in the Pro12.

Alberto Chillon replaces ex-All Black Brendon Leonard at scrum-half, while veteran loosehead Salvatore Perugini comes into the front row in place of Matias Aguero.

The other switch comes on the tighthead side of the scrum, with D Ryan dropping out of the squad for Luciano Leibson.

Giulio Toniolatti, Luca Redolfini, Andrea De Marchi and Michael van Vuren all come into the substitutes.

The teams:

Zebre: 15 Gugliemo Palazzani, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Kameli Ratuvou, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Tommaso Iannone, 9 Alberto Chillon, 8 Samuela Vunisa, 7 Nicola Catiina, 6 Mauro Bergamasco, 5 Marco Bortolami (c), 4 Quintin Geledenhuys, 3 Luciano Leibson, 2 Tommaso D'Apice, 1 Salvatore Perugini
Replacements: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Andrea De Marchi, 18 Luca Redolfini, 19 Michael van Vuren, 20 Emiliano Caffini, 21 Luciano Orquera, 22 Roberto Quartaroli, 23 Giulio Toniolatti

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Chris Wyles, 12 Duncan Taylor, 11 David Strettle, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Kelly Brown, 6 Billy Vunipola, 5 George Kruis, Steve Borthwick (c), 3 James Johnston, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Richard Barrington
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Jared Saunders, 18 Matt Stevens, 19 Eoin Sheriff, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Marcelo Bosch.

Date: Saturday 7th December
Venue: Stade XXV Aprile
Kick-off:1435 local, 1335 GMT
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Assistant referees: Patrick Rechambert, Jean-Luc Rebodall (both France)
TMO: Daniel Irazoqui (France)