Saracens seek to continue title drive against improved Tigers

On Sunday at Welford Road Leicester Tigers take on Saracens. Seventh placed Tigers will be looking for a win that could move them into the top four of the Premiership. Sarries, currently sit in second place in the table with 34 points, level with current leaders Exeter Chiefs.

Tigers currently have won two of their last three Gallagher Premiership games after picking up victories over Northampton Saints 23-15 and a narrow 19-15 win against Sale Sharks.

Saracens come into Sunday’s contest on the back of an incredible 18 match unbeaten run in all competitions. The last team to beat Sarries was eventual winners Leinster last April in the European Champions Cup. The visitors are also on a tremendous run of form in the Premiership, with Exeter the last team to beat them back in March.
Last weekend Saracens continued their hot streak by completing a 31-25 victory at home to a dogged Sale Sharks side.

Leicester’s 28-20 victory at Allianz Park in February ended a four-game losing run to Saracens in the Premiership. It took Saracens 46 years to win for the first time at Welford Road in 2010, but since then they have won six times in ten visits.

Team news:

Jonah Holmes returns to the Tigers team for Sunday’s clash. Leicester have also recalled Brendan O’Connor in the back row with Guy Thompson ruled out with a leg injury. Mike Williams is also set to make his 50th Premiership appearance for the club.

Meanwhile, Saracens bring back into the side Alex Lozowski, who will start on the wing. French International Christopher Tolofua is named in the front row alongside Richard Barrington and Christian Judge.
Both of these games can be seen on NBC SN this weekend.

Teams:

Leicester: 15 Jonah Holmes, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Gareth Owen, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jordan Olowofela, 10 Joe Ford, 9 Sam Harrison, 1 Greg Bateman, 2 Tom Youngs (c), 3 Dan Cole, 4 Will Spencer, 5 Graham Kitchener, 6 Mike Williams, 7 Brendon O’Connor, 8 Sione Kalamafoni

Replacements: 16 Jake Kerr, 17 Facundo Gigena. 18 Gaston Cortes, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Mike Fitzgerald, 21 Ben White, 22 Tom Hardwick, 23 George Worth

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Alex Lozowski, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Brad Barritt (c), 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Max Malins, 9 Ben Spencer; 1 Richard Barrington, 2 Christopher Tolofua, 3 Christian Judge, 4 Dom Day, 5 Will Skelton, 6 Mike Rhodes, 7 Schalk Burger, 8 Jackson Wray

Replacements: 16 Tom Woolstencroft, 17 Hayden Thompson-Stringer, 18 Hisa Sasagi, 19 Joel Kpoku, 20 Calum Clark, 21 Ben Earl, 22 Tom Whiteley, 23 Matt Gallagher