Saracens team vs Newcastle Falcons

Saracens are in Aviva Premiership action on Friday night when they travel to Newcastle Falcons.

In team news ahead of the game, Owen Farrell and James Short return to the Saracens starting XV for the penultimate match of regular season.

They are the only changes to the side that won 28-19 at London Irish last weekend. Michael Tagicakibau and Charlie Hodgson both move to the replacement’s bench.

Saracens team vs Newcastle Falcons

15 Alex Goode
14 David Strettle
13 Chris Wyles
12 Brad Barritt
11 James Short
10 Owen Farrell
9 Neil de Kock
1 Rhys Gill
2 Schalk Brits
3 Matt Stevens
4 Steve Borthwick ©
5 George Kruis
6 Jackson Wray
7 Will Fraser
8 Ernst Joubert

16 Jamie George
17 Mako Vunipola
18 Carlos Nieto
19 Mouritz Botha
20 Justin Melck
21 Richard Wigglesworth
22 Charlie Hodgson
23 Michael Tagicakibau

Leeds Carnegie Director of Rugby Andy Key interview

Andy-KeyAndy Key looks ahead to his side’s game at Leicester Tigers this Saturday, kick off 3pm.

DOES THIS GAME HAVE EXTRA SIGNIFANCE GIVEN THE OBVIOUS LINKS BETWEEEN YOU AND NEIL BACK WITH LEICESTER?

First and foremost it is a game that we are going into looking to perform as a team. I would be lying if I said that it wasn’t a game that I was looking forward to because of the time Neil and I spent with the Tigers. Between us we spent nearly 40 years of our lives at the club and we have many great friends still there. However, we are very much all about Leeds Carnegie now and making Leeds a club that can challenge the likes of Leicester for the major honours in the game. Clearly we are not there yet but we are making good progress so for this season and we go there in good spirits.

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Sharks team to face Wasps – Sheriden back in training

Sale Sharks Director of Rugby Kingsley Jones has announced his team to play London Wasps at Edgeley Park on Friday evening. There is a slight doubt over Lee Thomas who has been suffering with a hamstring problem. If Lee fails a fitness test his place will be taken by David Bishop

Kingsley said, ” It’s a quick turnaround this week following the win at Leeds on Sunday. I am delighted to welcome back Mark Cueto and Mathew Tait and have rotated the squad in several positions. We have five big games coming up in quick succession starting with this Friday’s game and I am sure that all my squad will feature at some stage. Wasps had a good start to the campaign and I am sure they will be looking to make up some lost ground after defeats to Leeds and Saracens. Wasps are one of the best sides in the Guinness Premiership and we need to respect them for the whole 80 minutes. We need to be patient too as we were at Leeds and if we show the same character I am sure it will be a great game.”

Team

Marika Vakacegu, Mark Cueto, Mathew Tait, Lee Thomas/David Bishop, Ben Cohen, Charlie Hodgson, Richard Wigglesworth, Eifion Roberts, Neil Briggs, Jack Forster, Dean Schofield, Sean Cox, Carl Fearns, Luke Abraham, Sisa Koyamaibole

Replacements

Marc Jones, Rob O’Donnell, Martin Halsall, James Gaskell, David Seymour, Chris Leck, Chris Bell, Nick Macleod

Stand By Players

Gavin Kerr, Kristian Ormsby, Ed Styles and Oriol Ripol

ANDREW SHERIDAN

Andrew Sheridan has returned to light training after his shoulder operation and is making progress.

The Charlie Hodgson Interview

Charlie Hodgson

"It's important for all the senior players to give the younger lads good influence"

With Charlie Hodgson’s golden boot kicking Sale Sharks to success against Gloucester last weekend, Hodgson reflects on his and the team’s performance this season and looks ahead to Newport Gwent Dragons in the LV = Cup on Friday

So far this season Charlie has had an impressive 80% success rate for his talismanic goal kicking. Returning from a toe injury, Hodgson kicked seven penalties and a conversion for Sale Sharks against Gloucester in the Guinness Premiership last week and was deservedly voted Man of the Match.

When asked about his performance against Gloucester, Charlie commented, “Of course, I’m pleased, but it’s not about what I do. I think I contribute to the team and that’s just my job. I’ll do that to the best of my ability.

“I was slightly disappointed with the performance because we know we could have played better and we know we could provide some more attractive rugby for people to come and watch but we’re thankful for picking up a win and hopefully we can build on that.”

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Sale starting XV for Dragons LV= game

Sale Sharks Director of Rugby Kingsley has selected his side for Friday evening’s LV=Cup game away to Newport Gwent Dragons.

Kingsley said, “We are expecting a very tough game. Paul Turner has done a great job with the Dragons and they had an excellent result at the weekend when they won at Edinburgh. They also ran Gloucester very close in the Heineken Cup in October. This is a competition we are looking to do well in and I have named a team that I believe will do well.”

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