Saracens make 12 changes to their XV for London Irish

I actually thought Dunn had his best season last year, so would be a fairytale ending if he took it and it deserves to be on his terms after everything he has given to the club.

LCD will be the starting No 2 by the next RWC but would help if ENG gave him 3 jumpers to throw at, as they have come under greater line out defence when there is only the two of them (and Martin is poor at the line out, so they hardly use him).

Hendy has steadily improved the last 2 seasons. He hit some decent form before the shoulder injury, which I think cost him a place in the 6N squad and this summer tour. He will need to hit the ground running with Saints and we’ll see in the AI’s. It will not help that Saints will need to manage rest periods for Mitchell & Smith, as they are not the same team without them, so hopefully start well and build momentum this season.

The issue in France will be tricky though, with little appetite to dispense with their play offs or restructure the league, and increasing squad sizes will not be as simple as it might seem once the Jiff rules are considered. Presuming ofc that the T14 ownership club could be persuaded to dip yet further into their pockets to pay for it. One very unintended consequence of that might see the French clubs hoover up increasingly more young overseas prospects into their academies than is currently the case!