Aviva Premiership - Saracens v Newcastle Falcons - Match Preview

Saturday 26 March 2011

Date: Sunday 26th March 2011
Venue: Vicarage Road
Kick-Off: 3pm
Referee: Martin Fox

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After having a three week break to reflect on their current form, Saracens will be bidding to make it seven wins on the bounce when they host Newcastle Falcons on Sunday afternoon.

Their 15-14 triumph over league leaders Leicester in their last match meant they closed the gap at the top of the table to just two points and they'll be hoping to take top spot by the end of the weekend if Leicester slip up against Bath.

Newcastle will be searching for revenge against the side they narrowly lost 15-13 to back on October last year and they'll see a positive result as the perfect way to spark a late revival towards the final five rounds of the campaign. However, the last time they met at Vicarage Road Saracens ran out comfortable 58-15 winners.

Falcons have had an inconsistent season and sit one place and six points above bottom club Leeds Carnegie in the league standings. They will still be feeling disappointed with their LV= Cup final defeat to Gloucester last weekend but will need to put such feelings aside against a Sarries side that will be high in confidence while on such an impressive run of form.

Winger David Strettle will feature for the Saracens after his cameo appearance for England against Ireland last weekend. James Short, Neil de Kock and Hayden Smith will also start for the hosts.

Newcaslte coach Alan Tait will makes several changes to the side that lost out in last week's cup final. Prop James Hall and flanker Will Welch both start, while Tom Catterick will start at full-back. Former Rugby League winger Rikki Sheriffe has been handed his first start for the Falcons since switching codes.

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How they line up...

Saracens (2nd, 55pts)

15 Alex Goode
14 David Strettle
13 Chris Wyles
12 Brad Barritt
11 James Short
10 Owen Farrell
9 Neil de Kock
1 Matt Stevens
2 Schalk Brits
3 Carlos Nieto
4 Steve Borthwick
5 Hayden Smith
6 Justin Melck
7 Andy Saull
8 Ernst Joubert

Replacements
16 Jamie George
17 Jared Saunders
18 Petrus du Plessis
19 Hugh Vyvyan
20 Kelly Brown
21 Richard Wigglesworth
22 Adam Powell
23 Noah Cato

Newcastle Falcons (11th, 20pts)

15 Tom Catterick
14 Alex Tait
13 Luke Eves
12 James Fitzpatrick
11 Rikki Sheriffe
10 Jimmy Gopperth
9 Chris Pilgrim
1 Jonny Golding
2 Matt Thompson
3 James Hall
4 James Hudson
5 Andrew van der Heijden
6 Tim Swinson
7 Will Welch
8 Ally Hogg

Replacements
16 Rob Vickers
17 Grant Shiells
18 Kieron Brookes
19 Mark Wilson
20 Alex Gray
21 Micky Young
22 Tane Tu'ipuloto
23 Joel Hodgson

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Stat Attack

13 - Saracens have lost just one Premiership game at home in 13 months. That came in October last year when Exeter Chiefs won 23-9 at Vicarage Road.

1 - Newcastle have won just one away game in the Premiership this season - 22-5 at Leeds Carnegie last month.

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