Preview: Saracens v Worcester
Title contenders Saracens return to Wembley Stadium on Saturday as they host Worcester Warriors in the Guinness Premiership.
Title contenders Saracens return to Wembley Stadium on Saturday as they host Worcester Warriors in the Guinness Premiership.
In team news ahead of the game, Saracens welcome back England Saxons quartet Alex Goode, Brad Barritt, Andy Saull and Noah Cato to the matchday squad. Kameli Ratuvou also returns to the centres while Neil de Kock and Glen Jackson are the halfback pairing.
Saracens have already enjoyed two great results at the 90,000 seat venue with wins over Northampton Saints and South Africa and Director of Rugby Brendan Venter is looking forward to another exciting day.
“We've had two fantastic occasions at the stadium already this season and have created some very special memories and I'm sure Saturday will be no different,” he said.
“It is a privilege to play at such a world famous stadium but the players also know they have a job to do against Worcester Warriors.
“They have a very powerful pack of forwards and with players such as Chris Latham and Rico Gear across their backline to name but a few, they have players who can change the game in an instant.”
Meanwhile, England Saxons duo Miles Benjamin and Tom Wood return to the Worcester Warriors starting line-up.
Benjamin, who last weekend scored against Italy A, and Wood are part of four changes made by Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock for the club's first ever trip to Wembley.
Centre Sam Tuitupou returns to the team, lining up alongside Dale Rasmussen, and Chris Fortey is named in the front row alongside Adam Black and Tevita Taumoepeau.
Tongan hooker Aleki Lutui is among the replacements and will celebrate his 100th appearance for Warriors if he makes it onto the hallowed turf in the capital.
“Aleki is a Warrior and his performances are always 100 percent. You can never fault him in terms of his commitment and his effort,” said Ruddock.
“If he comes off the bench I know he will make a massive impact and he deserves to be recognised through his efforts on the field and that 100th appearance is great recognition to the commitment he had given to the Warriors.
“We expect to face a very pumped up Saracens team to come out all guns blazing and looking to make a statement on the back of losing to Dragons last week,” he added.
“It is going to be tough as they are top of the league, but we are up for it and last week against London Irish we showed when we play rugby and are accurate we can be a formidable team.
“We showed some really good execution last weekend and excellent defence, if we do all those things well again this weekend we can give Saracens a real game.”
Form:Saracens' only win in the Guinness Premiership in their last four games was 15-13 over Sale at Vicarage Road on 5 December. Saracens make a second trip to Wembley Stadium following their 19-16 victory over Northampton there on 12 September. Worcester have managed to draw four of their last five matches in the Guinness Premiership, but are in fact winless in the competition since Sale visited Sixways on 26 September. The Warriors' only away victory in the Premiership since November 2008 was 13-6 at Gloucester on 21 April 2009. The two teams drew 12-all at Sixways in the Guinness Premiership on 27 November.
The teams:
Saracens: :15 Alex Goode, 14 Michael Tagicakibau, 13 Kameli Ratuvou, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Glen Jackson, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Andy Saull, 6 Wikus van Heerden 5 Tom Ryder, 4 Hayden Smith, 3 Richard Skuse, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Kas Lealamanua.
Replacements:16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Carlos Nieto, 19 Mouritz Botha, 20 Jacques Burger, 21 Justin Marshall, 22 Derick Hougaard, 23 Noah Cato.
Worcester:15 Chris Latham, 14 Chris Pennell, 13 Dale Rasmussen, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Willie Walker, 9 Jonny Arr, 8 Kai Horstmann, 7 Pat Sanderson (c), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Craig Gillies, 4 Greg Rawlinson, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 2 Chris Fortey, 1 Adam Black.
Replacements:16 Jack Gilding, 17 Aleki Lutui, 18 Olivier Sourgens 19 Graham Kitchener, 20 Chris Cracknell, 21 Ryan Powell, 22 Matthew Jones, 23 Rico Gear.
Date: Saturday, 14 February
Venue: Wembley Stadium
Kick-off:15.00 GMT
Referee: Dave Pearson