Bristol v Saracens: Teams

At the Memorial Ground, Wednesday October 1, kick-off 7.45pm

Last updated: 30th September 2008  

Bristol v Saracens: Teams

Jarvis: Back at fly-half

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Bristol coach Richard Hill shuffles his back line and makes two changes to the pack for the visit of Saracens on Wednesday night.

Vunga Lilo is left out of the 22 with Luke Arscott moving to his more familiar role at fullback and Ed Barnes switches back into the centre to allow for the return at stand-off of Adrian Jarvis, who missed the trip to Newcastle through injury.

In the forwards Mariano Sambucetti and Alfie To'oala, who both started against Sale in the last game at the Memorial, return in place of Roy Winters and Matt Salter.

"We're hoping that the home atmosphere will give the players a real lift," said Hill. "It was excellent against Sale and, under lights, created that special atmosphere we get down at Bristol.

"We've gone back to the side that went pretty well against Sale. We're hoping we can produce the same intensity but improve the performance slightly to clinch a win.

"We haven't clicked as a side yet. There's a lot of hard work gone in so we hope that Wednesday will be when it all comes together. There's a good mood in the camp, there's a positive frame of mind and we're looking forward to it."

Saracens make just one change to the starting XV that lined up against Northampton at the weekend.

Chris Jack picked up a shoulder injury in the 26-12 victory over Northampton so Ben Skirving comes into the back row.

The All Black will also miss Sunday's EDF Energy Cup match against Llanelli Scarlets, although he could return in time for the start of the club's European Challenge Cup campaign against Mont de Marsan next week.

Nick Lloyd earns a place on the bench while and Director of Rugby Eddie Jones has also added Noah Cato and Don Barrell to his traveling squad of 24 to the West Country.

"Traveling to Bristol is going to be a tough test and we will have to improve our performance levels once again to get the result we want," Jones said.

"We've been improving game by game and that's what we want to continue. We've been forced into one team change with the injury to Chris Jack but apart from that it's the same team we have selected for the last three matches and it's good to have that consistency."

Bristol: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Tom Arscott, 13 Neil Brew, 12 Ed Barnes, 11 David Lemi, 10 Adrian Jarvis, 9 Graeme Beveridge, 1, Alex Clarke, 2, Scott Linklater, 3 Jason Hobson; 4 Mariano Sambucetti, 5 Nathan Budgett; 6 Alfie To'oala, 7 Joe El Abd (capt), 8 Dan Ward-Smith.
Replacements: 16 David Blaney, 17 Peter Bracken, 18 Robert Sidoli, 19 Andrew Blowers, 20 Haydn Thomas, 21 Luke Eves, 22 Greg Barden

Saracens: 15 Richard Haughton, 14 Rodd Penney, 13 Kevin Sorrell, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Kameli Ratuvou, 10 Glen Jackson, 9 Neil de Kock, 1 Matias Aguero, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 3 Cencus Johnston, 4 Steve Borthwick (c), 5 Hugh Vyvyan, 6 Ben Skirving, 7 Andy Saull, 8 Michael Owen.
Replacements: 16 Matt Cairns, 17 Cobus Visagie, 18 Nick Lloyd, 19 Kris Chesney, 20 Moses Rauluni, 21 Gordon Ross, 22 Chris Wyles