Aviva Premiership - Saracens v Bath Rugby - Match Preview
Date: Sunday, 3rd April, 2011
Venue: Vicarage Road
Kick-Off: 2.15pm (Live on ESPN)
Referee: Nigel Owens
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Saracens are currently the form team in the Premiership, taking 25 points from a possible 30 in their last six matches. With one loss in the league since November and recent important wins against Leicester and Northampton, Saries are one of the favourites to win the Aviva Premiership this season. They'll be eager to close the seven point gap that Leicester hold at the top of the league and another home fixture against mid-table opposition will be the perfect place for them to continue their great form.
Bath will want to bounce back immediately from their biggest defeat in history against Leicester last Saturday. However, they remain one of the best sides away from home so far this season, with a total of 20 points taken from eight games on the road. A European place, and even a play-off spot, is still on the cards for Bath Rugby and they'll be counting on their away form to record a shock victory over one of the title favourites.
On the back of Leicester's 13-17 win away to Harlequins yesterday, Saracens' need to win and reduce the deficit at the top has increased and they'll therefore be more of a threat to a Bath side that could climb into the top six with a win.
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How they line up
Saracens (2nd, 59pts)
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 Steve Borthwick
5 Hayden Smith
6 Kelly Brown
7 Andy Saull
8 Ernst Joubert
Replacements
16 Jamie George
17 Rhys Gill
18 Petrus du Plessis
19 Mouritz Botha
20 Jacques Burger
21 Kevin Barrett
22 Adam Powell
23 Noah Cato
Bath Rugby (7th, 40pts)
15 Nick Abendanon
14 Matt Banahan
13 Ben Williams
12 Shantayne Hape
11 Matt Carraro
10 Butch James
9 Michael Claassens
1 David Flatman
2 Lee Mears
3 Duncan Bell
4 Stuart Hooper
5 Peter Short
6 Ben Skirving
7 Luke Watson
8 Simon Taylor
Replacements
16 Pieter Dixon
17 Nathan Catt
18 David Wilson
19 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe
20 Guy Mercer
21 Mark McMillan
22 Sam Vesty
23 Jack Cuthbert
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Stat Attack
3 - Saracens have won three of their last four meetings with Bath.
20 - Bath have picked up 20 points from their eight away fixtures so far this season - the third best in the Premiership.
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