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Bristol change four, Saracens seven for top-table Premiership clash

England pick Ben Earl won't play for Saracens at Bristol (Photo by Bob Bradford/CameraSport via Getty Images)

Leaders Bristol have named a starting XV showing four changes to take on the second-place Saracens who will arrive at Ashton Gate on Saturday with a selection containing seven alterations, including the absence of the injured Ben Earl, following their loss at Harlequins last Sunday.

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The Bears produced a memorable comeback at Sandy Park to defeat Exeter 40-35. England Autumn Nations Series squad picks Ellis Genge and Harry Randall, who played off the bench, have been restored as starters with Jake Woolmore and Kieran Marmion moving to the replacements.

Failed fitness tests account for their other two changes with Steven Luatua and Benhard Janse van Rensburg injured. Both are expected to to be available for next weekend’s six clash with champions Northampton. In the meantime, their places have gone to James Dun and the recently contracted Toby Fricker.

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      Dun packs down at blindside, with Fricker’s inclusion on the right wing seeing Jack Bates switch into midfield to partner Joe Jenkins. The fit-again hooker Harry Thacker is named as a sub.

      Beaten 10-17 at Harlequins, Saracens – who have seven players in Steve Borthwick’s England squad – have made five changes to their pack and two in the backs. Theo Dan and Hugh Tizard will start with Jamie George and Nick Isiekwe, who is poised for his 150th club appearance, now covering from the bench.

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      In a fully changed back row, Theo McFarland, Toby Knight and Tom Willis are in for Juan Martin Gonzalez, Andy Onyeama-Christie and Earl. The London club’s media release explained: “Juan Martin Gonzalez was ruled out after injuring his bicep, Andy Onyeama-Christie will have surgery on Monday and Ben Earl also failed to recover from a minor knock picked up at The Stoop.”

      The recall of Rotimi Segun to left wing sees Elliot Daly move to full-back and Alex Goode from 15 to No10 with Fergus Burke missing due to a “minor” hamstring injury. Josh Hallett is also named as the starting inside centre with Nick Tompkins on the bench.

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      Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam said: “Playing Saracens is always a huge test and even more so off the back of their defeat last week, so we know they will be fully fired up to be at their best this weekend and we understand that challenge.

      “But what excites me the most is the opportunity for further development for our young players to play in a game like this, where they will be tested. With the minor injuries to Steven and Benhard, it means deserved starts for academy trio James Dun, Joe Jenkins and Jack Bates.

      “This is the reason we reduced the squad size to its lowest ever – to give these opportunities to our young players – and with 10 current or former academy players in the match day squad, we are all excited for these players and their families.”

      BRISTOL: 15. Rich Lane; 14. Toby Fricker, 13. Jack Bates, 12. Joe Jenkins, 11. Gabriel Ibitoye; 10. AJ MacGinty, 9. Harry Randall; 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Gabriel Oghre, 3. Max Lahiff, 4. Josh Caulfield, 5. Joe Batley, 6. James Dun, 7. Santiago Grondona, 8. Fitz Harding (capt). Reps: 16. Harry Thacker, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. George Kloska, 19. Joe Owen, 20. Benjamin Grondona, 21. Kieran Marmion, 22. Sam Worsley, 23. Benjamin Elizalde.

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      SARACENS: 15. Elliot Daly; 14. Tobias Elliott, 13. Alex Lozowski, 12. Josh Hallett, 11. Rotimi Segun; 10. Alex Goode, 9. Ivan van Zyl; 1. Rhys Carre, 2. Theo Dan, 3. Marco Riccioni, 4. Maro Itoje (capt), 5. Hugh Tizard, 6. Theo McFarland, 7. Toby Knight, 8. Tom Willis. Reps: 16. Jamie George, 17. Phil Brantingham, 18. Alec Clarey, 19. Nick Isiekwe, 20. Nathan Michelow, 21. Gareth Simpson, 22. Nick Tompkins, 23. Brandon Jackson.

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      H
      Hellhound 15 minutes ago
      Springboks' No.1 status in world rankings coming under increased threat

      I disagree. A fair system would include points for EVERY MATCH you play, top guns or dregs. The WC should not influence the points table. No tournament should. It should be simple. This much for a home or away win. The problem with that is that Top Tier nations can point stay by arranging a lot of games against those nations to bring up their points tally, which wouldn't work. At least not on the points table. It would however give Tier 2 nations more game time against the Top Tier nations, which in itself is a good thing. However, that being said, it would dilute the quality of teams as they don't face tough enough opposition to handle the real tough teams, so come WC time, they would suffer for those consequences. There is no points system that currently can be used that would be fair to all, so the best is to try and be as fair as possible. We may not like the current system, but it's the best we have. Some suggested the Soccer system, but it won't work in rugby. No one has come up with a better points system and if they did, WR isn't sharing that. They would rather keep an eye on Dr Rassie with pen in hand ready to declare everything he does as illegal and against the spirit of the game. The SA men are too big, we can't stop them. Maybe we should ban the big men from SA as illegal but keep the big men of other countries? Oh wait, now the SA backs are too fast and slippery. That isn't good for WR so let's declare fast SA backs as illegal too. Yeah, that's how it works in WR isn't it? WR and all other countries hate the Boks. Never give them the respect they deserve, then are shocked completely finding out that no South African care what the world of rugby or its fans or other nations think about us. We don't care about the points system. It's as rotten as World Rugby and it's socialistic communistic rule of laws. The Boks will keep leading the brand of rugby. Keep innovating. Keep pushing boundaries. Keep the game interesting. We respect the AB's because they respect us. They may not like us, but the respect has always been crystal clear. Over 100 years of the biggest rivalry in rugby’s history can't be thrown away just like that. No points system can do that. Between WC's, we care about the AB's, the rest is just preparation for the next WC.

      90 Go to comments
      J
      Jfp123 18 minutes ago
      New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

      It would be interesting to see how the financial deal and viewing figures for these last 3 matches compare with those for previous tours by leading NH nations. I imagine that broadcasting rights are negotiated a fair way in advance, so did the broadcasters realise France would send a B team when they signed on the dotted line? And to what extent were viewing figures affected? I’d have thought die hard fans would tune in anyway, and more casual fans wouldn’t know much about French players, except perhaps Dupont, and wouldn’t care who played on the French side - wouldn’t it be which ABs played that would matter to them? Although the big ‘disrespect’ furore might have had an effect, but whether to increase or decrease viewing figures I couldn’t say.

      It’s not only the French national team that sends out B teams, many of their clubs do too, both in away matches in the Top14 and in Champions Cup. But these B teams often play in front of sell out crowds, and the value of the broadcasting rights for the Top 14 have gone up and up.

      Of course, home advantage is real, and matches against the Saffas and ABs where they play best is I guess at the current time the hardest test of all. However, it doesn’t look like we’ll actually see France A in NZ or SA for the foreseeable future - the Top14 really is a fabulous competition, almost year round brilliant rugby, with big stars from around the world, madly enthusiastic fans, and a big money earner, I can’t see the French making major alterations (I’m not French, but I’m a big fan too and the only alteration I’d make is a limit on individual playing time for player welfare).

      Considering their home record against NZ and away against Ireland, I think that’s enough to acknowledge that the top French players have a very high degree of skill, but if SH fans don’t see things that way, that’s up to them. My point was, if NZ fans don’t think much of them, why are they so bothered they’re not there. Anyway come 2027, France A will travel to the SH, if not NZ or SA, and we’ll see what happens!

      100 Go to comments
      S
      Soliloquin 38 minutes ago
      All Blacks squeeze past France to sweep July series in Hamilton

      Big question!

      I think they would get outsmarted by the A team, outpacked forward and depending on the form of the A team, the score would be more or less 15-20 points a higher or lower victory.

      The only issue is that France has a lot of 13s, and they were all in NZ.

      This weekend’s team was gassed out, so it’s also very much linked to fitness level.

      Just like the ABs were tired at the end of November, while the French were rusty after just one game against Japan.

      I fear they will get smashed in Paris without Dupont (confirmed to be still out) by the Springboks as it will be their first game of the international season (a nonsense to me - the biggest game will be the first)


      The squad for this France A would be:

      Gros-Mauvaka-Tatafu

      Flament-Meafou

      Cros-Ollivon-Alldritt

      Dupont-Ntamack

      Moefana-?(all 13s were in NZ) Costes ?

      Bielle-Biarrey-Penaud

      Ramos


      (But if you can take players from the NZ, then Guillard and Barassi or Fickou could be in)


      Against the C team:

      Erdocio-Bourgarit-Slimani

      Auradou-Halagahu

      Fischer-Guillard-Brennan

      Le Garrec-Hastoy

      Fickou-Depoortere

      Attissogbe-Villière

      Barré


      And a B team would be:

      Baille-Marchand-Atonio

      Cazeaux-Vergé

      Jegou-Jelonch-Gazzotti

      Lucu-Jalibert

      Danty-Frisch

      Lebel-Dréan

      Buros


      ———

      France A-France C at full fitness: 38-12

      France A-France B: 28-17

      France B-France C: 32-20


      It seems a bit like Toulouse is kind of France A at full power last year, UBB is France B at full power last year and Racing92 is France C at full power this year.

      111 Go to comments
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