Aviva Premiership - Exeter Chiefs v Saracens - Match Preview

Friday 15 April 2011

Date: Saturday 16th April 2011
Venue: Sandy Park
Kick-Off: 3pm
Referee: Dean Richards

Reverse Fixture: Saracens 9 - 23 Exeter Chiefs (30th October 2010)

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Exeter's first season in top-flight rugby has been relatively successful and they've done well to ensure they'll be playing in the Aviva Premiership next season. They've only met Saracens once competitively and that saw them run out surprise 23-9 winners at Vicarge Round in the reverse fixture in round seven. A strong start to the season looks to have been complimented with a weak finish as the Chiefs have recorded four consecutive defeats in the Premiership, although they have won four of their last five matches in all competitions.

Saracens are finishing the season strongly and have recorded eight successive victories in all competitions since January. They trail league leaders Leicester by only three points and they'll be aiming to knock the Tigers off their perch before the play-offs begin. A disappointing loss to Exeter Chiefs in October may seem like a distant memory, but they'll no doubt be seeking revenge at Sandy Park on Saturday.

Can Saracen's close the gap on Leicester at the top of the table? Or will Exeter add to their fantastic debut Premiership season and complete an unlikely double over one of the league's favourites?

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How they line up ¦

Exeter Chiefs (9th, 37pts)

15 Luke Arscott
14 Matt Jess
13 Jason Shoemark
12 Sireli Naqelevuki
11 Nic Sestaret
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Junior Poluleuligaga
1 Brett Sturgess
2 Neil Clark
3 Hoani Tui
4 Tom Hayes
5 James Hanks
6 Tom Johnson
7 James Scaysbrook
8 Richard Baxter

Replacements
16 Chris Whitehead
17 Ben Moon
18 Chris Budgen
19 Chad Slade
20 James Phillips
21 Garrick Cowley
22 Phil Dollman
23 Ignacio Mieres

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Saracens (2nd, 63pts)

15 Alex Goode
14 David Strettle
13 Chris Wyles
12 Brad Barritt
11 James Short
10 Owen Farrell
9 Richard Wigglesworth
1 Matt Stevens
2 Schalk Brits
3 Carlos Nieto
4 Mouritz Botha
5 Hayden Smith
6 Kelly Brown
7 Jacques Burger
8 Ernst Joubert

Replacements
16 Jamie George
17 Rhys Gill
18 Petrus du Plessis
19 Hugh Vyvyan
20 Andy Saull
21 Kevin Barrett
22 Adam Powell
23 Noah Cato

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Stat Attack

100 - Exeter have a 100% competitive record against Saracens - winning their first ever meeting in October.

8 - Saracens have won eight successive matches in all competitions since losing 24-14 to Clermont Auvergne in the Heineken Cup in January.

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