Toulon v Saracens: Owen Farrell starts for Champions Cup holders
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 15/10/16 2:57pm
Saracens boss Mark McCall has backed his players to thrive amid the high-octane atmosphere of a European Champions Cup clash against fellow tournament heavyweights Toulon.
McCall's men begin their European title defence at Stade Felix-Mayol on Saturday against the three-time champions.
And although it is only the opening game across six rounds of group action, the showdown could still go some way towards deciding which team tops the group and guarantees a quarter-final place.
"What happened last year doesn't come into it," said McCall, who saw Saracens lift the trophy by beating French challengers Racing 92 in Lyon.
"But I do think we have a group who love these occasions, and it brings the best out of them. They won't be intimidated by it - they will thrive on it.
"Last Sunday [Saracens beat Aviva Premiership rivals Wasps 30-14] was good preparation for it. Certain parts of our game are in good shape. Our defence was magnificent, and it has been all season.
"And we have dominated teams territorially, and it will be important against Toulon to put them in difficult positions and situations that they don't get every week in the Top 14."
Fly-half Owen Farrell makes his first appearance of the season for Saracens after recovering from back and hip trouble, while Alex Goode features at full-back and a powerful pack includes the likes of Maro Itoje, Schalk Burger and Billy Vunipola.
Saracens skipper Brad Barritt added: "It promises to be an amazing atmosphere, as you get with every home Toulon game.
"They are going to have a packed ground with a passionate fan-base, and it's something that we have really enjoyed over the last few seasons, going to these home fortresses and doing our best to go there and win.
"We know this season is a new chapter, and we know that we have to work doubly hard to get anywhere near the achievements of last season."
Toulon have already lost three games in the French Top 14 this term but their European Cup pedigree is of the highest calibre, having recorded a tournament hat-trick between 2013 and 2015.
"On Saturday, we want victory at any price. It will not be easy, but we will do our best," Toulon head coach Diego Dominguez said.
"The challenge is high, and my players will be highly motivated. They are aware of the importance of this game.
"Saracens have really developed as a team over the last two years. They attack well, they defend well, they have speed and good finishers. They have all the things that the big teams have."
Toulon: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Josua Tuisova, 13 Matt Carraro, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Francois Trinh Duc, 9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde; 1 Florian Fresia, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 3 Levan Chilachava, 4 Samu Manoa, 5 Mamuka Gorgodze, 6 Charles Ollivon, 7 Juan Fernandez Lobbe, 8 Duane Vermeulen (c).
Replacements: 16 Jean-Charles Orioli, 17 Xavier Chiocci, 18 Manasa Saulo, 19 Liam Gill, 20 Mathieu Bastareaud, 21 Pierre Bernard, 22 Eric Escande, 23 Romain Taofifenua.
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Brad Barritt (c), 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Juan Figallo, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 George Kruis, 6 Jackson Wray, 7 Schalk Burger, 8 Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Petrus du Plessis, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Michael Rhodes, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Alex Lozowski, 23 Michael Ellery.
