Saracens v Gloucester: Teams
Saracens welcome back skipper Steve Borthwick as they attempt to secure a home semi-final with a victory over Gloucester.
Last Updated: 22/04/11 2:15pm
Saracens welcome back skipper Steve Borthwick as they attempt to secure a home semi-final with a victory over Gloucester on Sunday.
The second row missed last week's 33-12 victory over Exeter with a shoulder injury but is back in the starting XV for the Aviva Premiership clash.
Scrum-half Neil de Kock also returns after recovering from a hamstring problem, leaving the rest of the line-up is unchanged from the contest against the Chiefs.
Richard Wigglesworth drops down to the bench to make way for de Kock, while Rodd Penney is set to make his 100th appearance for the club after being named as a replacement.
Fellow title-chasers Gloucester have named names James Simpson-Daniel in their starting line-up after a 10-week absence due to an ankle injury.
Changes
The Cherry and Whites are facing their third league match in eight days and head coach Bryan Redpath has once again rung the changes.
Simpson-Daniel returns on the wing with Tom Voyce given a rare start at full-back and Henry Trinder brought back into the centres.
Freddie Burns and Dave Lewis form the half-back partnership, while flanker Alasdair Strokosch is the only forward that keeps his place in the starting line-up.
The front row of Alasdair Dickinson, Scott Lawson and Rupert Harden return after acquitting themselves well against Leicester last weekend, while Will James and Jim Hamilton come in at lock. Brett Deacon will skipper the side from No. 8.
After their midweek win over Northampton, Gloucester need only two points from their final two fixtures to be certain of a place in the play-offs.
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 David Strettle, 13 Chris Wyles, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 James Short, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Jacques Burger, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Mouritz Botha, 4 Steve Borthwick(c), 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Matt Stevens.
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Petrus du Plessis, 19 Hugh Vyvyan, 20 Andy Saull, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Rodd Penney, 23 Noah Cato.
Gloucester: 15 Tom Voyce, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Henry Trinder, 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 James Simpson-Daniel, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Dave Lewis, 8 Brett Deacon (c) 7 Andy Hazell, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Jim Hamilton 4 Will James, 3 Rupert Harden 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 Olivier Azam, 17 Nick Wood, 18 Paul Doran-Jones, 19 Alex Brown, 20 Luke Narraway, 21 Rory Lawson, 22 Ryan Mills, 23 Tim Molenaar.
