Saracens v Exiles: Teams
Saracens will open up the new season against last year's Premiership finalists on Saturday.
Last Updated: 04/09/09 2:32pm
Saracens will open up the new season against last year's Guinness Premiership finalists London Irish on Saturday.
Director of rugby Brendan Venter has named his team for the game and gives front-row debuts to Schalk Brits, Carlos Nieto and Rhys Gill.
Ernst Joubert is also set to for his bow in a Saracens team that sees Glen Jackson and Neil de Kock as the half-back pairing and an exciting back three in Alex Goode, Noah Cato and Chris Wyles.
On the bench, Richard Skuse, Mouritz Botha and Derick Hougaard are in line for debuts and there is also a return for Michael Owen after missing the second half of the season with a knee injury.
Venter said: "Facing London Irish is a tough start. They are a very well coached side and they have some wonderful game breakers who make things happen.
"But we've got some great players of our own, all of who are on form with good game time under their belts from pre-season.
"There's a good balance of youth and experience across the team and everyone in the squad is excited to be starting the new season."
Preparation
London Irish, meanwhile, are planning to take the momentum of a strong finish to last season and the hard work of a tough pre-season into the match at Twickenham.
Head coach Toby Booth has handed new signing Ryan Lamb his debut at fly-half alongside Paul Hodgson, while Paulica Ion and Andy Perry are also given a start.
"We've gone for a tough pre-season to ensure that we're as well prepared as possible," said Booth.
"Last weekend we played Leinster, the champions of Europe in Dublin, the previous weekend we played Munster, the Magners League champions, in Cork."
The 23-man squad announced by the Exiles' boss contains 16 full internationals, 11 in the starting XV and five among the replacements.
"Who would have predicted that we would be starting the season playing a Saracens team whose director of rugby is our old friend and former player coach, Brendan Venter," he added.
"Brendan brings a lot of values, not least passion and organization, to a good Saracens squad, who will be full of confidence after a very convincing pre-season programme.
"Our 2009-10 squad is the most competitive we've had in my eight seasons at the club and we're looking forward to competing in both the Guinness Premiership and in Europe.
"Our supporters are excited about what lies ahead and we want to show them the true colours and passion we represent."
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Kameli Ratuvou, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Glen Jackson, 9 Neil de Kock, 1 Rhys Gill, 2 Schalk Brits, 3 Carlos Nieto, 4 Steve Borthwick (capt), 5 Hugh Vyvyan, 6 Wikus van Heerden, 7 Andy Saull, 8 Ernst Joubert
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Tom Mercey, 18 Richard Skuse, 19 Mouritz Botha, 20 Michael Owen, 21 Justin Marshall, 22 Derick Hougaard, 23 Richard Haughton.
London Irish: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Elvis Seveali'i, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Paul Hodgson, 1 Clarke Dermody (capt), 2 Danie Coetzee, 3 Paulica Ion, 4 Nick Kennedy, 5 Andy Perry, 6 Declan Danaher, 7 Steffon Armitage, 8 Chris Hala'Ufia
Replacements: 16 Dan Murphy, 17 James Buckland, 18 Faan Rautenbach, 19 Bob Casey, 20 George Stowers, 21 Peter Hewat, 22 Peter Richards, 23 Alfredo Lalanne.