62 - 5HT 31 - 0

Allianz Park
Att 8,250
Sat 04 Jan 20, 3:00pm

Van Velze to start at Saracens

Warriors number eight GJ van Velze will make his first Gallagher Premiership start of the season against Saracens at Allianz Park on Saturday (kick-off 3.00pm).

Van Velze has featured as a replacement in all seven Premiership matches so far and gets his first start in place of Cornell du Preez who suffered an ankle injury in last week’s win over London Irish.

Van Velze is one of six changes Warriors have made to their starting XV with tighthead prop Nick Schonert (gashed head) and fly-half Duncan Weir (jaw) ruled out by injuries sustained against Irish.

Richard Palframan starts in place of Schonert with Jono Lance called up to replace Weir.

Michael Heaney starts at scrum-half with Jamie Shillcock, a try-scorer against Harlequins in November on his last Premiership start, recalled at full-back.

Samoa international wing Ed Fidow will make his second Premiership appearance having recovered from concussion which he suffered after he had scored a hat-trick of tries against Wasps A in a recent Premiership Rugby Shield match.

Marco Mama returns to the squad after a two months absence as back row replacement having recovered from a severe dead leg.

Utility back Scott van Breda is also named as a replacement after a run of impressive performances for Worcester Cavaliers, the leaders of the Premiership Rugby Shield Northern Conference, and on two loan spells with Isuzu Southern Kings in the Guinness Pro-14 recently.

Centre Ollie Lawrence is set for a return to action off the bench having returned to action after a month out with an ankle injury in Monday’s Premiership Rugby Shield win over Northampton Wanderers.

Warriors

15 Jamie Shillcock
14 Ed Fidow
13 Ashley Beck
12 Ryan Mills
11 Tom Howe
10 Jono Lance
9 Michael Heaney
1 Callum Black
2 Matt Moulds (C)
3 Richard Palframan
4 Anton Bresler
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Ted Hill
7 Sam Lewis
8 GJ van Velze

Replacements
16 Joe Taufete’e
17 Ryan Bower
18 Conor Carey
19 Michael Fatialofa
20 Marco Mama
21 Francois Hougaard
22 Scott van Breda
23 Ollie Lawrence

Not considered due to injury: Niall Annett, Will Butler, Justin Clegg,  Cornell du Preez, Dean Hammond, Alex Hearle, Perry Humphreys, Caleb Montgomery, Joe Morris, Oli Morris, Farai Mudariki, Melani Nanai, Nick Schonert, Francois Venter, Duncan Weir, Matti Williams.

Saracens | 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Brad Barritt (C), 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth,  1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Titi Lamositele, 4 Maro Itoje,
5 Will Skelton, 6 Nick Isiekwe, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Billy Vunipola.

Replacements | 16 Jack Singleton, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Joel Kpoku, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Manu Vunipola, 23 Duncan Taylor.

Competition: Gallagher Premiership Rugby
Venue: Allianz Park
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Game Type: Away
Fixture Round: 8
Attendance: 8,250
No. Name T C D P
15 Elliot Daly 1T
14 Rotimi Segun 2T
13 Alex Lozowski
12 Brad Barritt 1T
11 Alex Lewington
10 Owen Farrell 6C
9 Richard Wigglesworth
1 Mako Vunipola 1T
2 Jamie George
3 Titi Lamositele
4 Maro Itoje 1T
5 Will Skelton
6 Nick Isiekwe
7 Ben Earl 1T
8 Billy Vunipola
Replacements
16 Jack Singleton
17 Richard Barrington 1T
18 Vincent Koch
19 Joel Kpoku
20 Jackson Wray 1T
21 Ben Spencer
22 Manu Vunipola
23 Duncan Taylor 1T

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