Pre season is all about gaining momentum ahead of the new season, trying new combinations and hopefully avoiding any major injuries.
Former Queensland Reds and Wallabies playmaker James O’Connor joins multiple All Blacks in the Crusaders’ side to take on the Blues.
The defending age-grade Six Nations and World Rugby Championship holders have retained the still-underage Josh Bellamy, Jack Bracken, Ben Coen, Kane James and George Timmins while also appointing Dave Walder, the ex-Newcastle boss, as an assistant.
Overall, the nine-try, 72-point belter was yet another classic showcase of a fabulously entertaining Gallagher Premiership, but the post-game Ashton Gate pints were all Saracens judging by the stragglers filtering out of the ground at around 7:30pm from the last remaining open stadium bar after a sunny, blue sky day had given way to a moonlit night.
Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Steve Diamond is stunned his 18-year-old scrum-half Joe Davis has not been included in England's U20 elite player squad.
New Zealand Under 20 are the most successful nation in the World Rugby Junior Championship winning the title six times since its inception in 2008.
The New Zealand squad features 31 of the country's finest young athletes, with selectors having identified plenty of promising talent at the recent U20 Super Rugby tournament played last month in Taupo.
The Ospreys have flown the flag for the struggling Welsh regions and their head coach has been fundamental to their resilience
All Blacks wing Sevu Reece has been named to return for the Crusaders for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury against the Blues last year.
The New Zealand Under 20 squad has been named ahead of the World Rugby U20 Championship later this month.