Guinness Premiership
Sarries eye vital away victory
Scrum.com
February 19, 2010
London Wasps fly-half Danny Cipriani looks on, London Wasps v Newcastle Falcons, Guinness Premiership, Adams Park, Wycombe, England, January 3, 2010
All eyes will be on Wasps fly-half Danny Cipriani after his move to the Melbourne Rebels was confirmed this week © Getty Images
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Saracens and London Wasps go head-to-head at Adams Park on Sunday in the pick of the latest clashes in the Guinness Premiership.

Saracens, who have suffered just two league defeats this season, are currently second in the table following their hard-fought 25-20 victory over Worcester at Wembley last time out while Wasps are just outside the play-off picture in fifth.

Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter has made four changes to his team for the clash as he continues the rotation policy that has proved extremely successful so far in this campaign. In the front row, Matias Aguero is back from international duty with Italy to start at loose-head prop while Ethienne Reynecke gets a start at hooker. In the backline, Derick Hougaard starts the game with Glen Jackson named on the bench. The other change sees Noah Cato start on the wing. Schalk Brits, Rhys Gill, Jacques Burger and Justin Marshall are among those named on the bench.

Speaking ahead of the game, Venter urged his side to start strongly against a Wasps side in need of a victory to maintain their post-season hopes. "Against Worcester last week we were very flat in the first half but we just fought back and fought back. We then started to play how Saracens should play and that is exactly what we must do from the very first whistle at Wasps," said the Sarries boss. "They are a very good side with some fantastic individual players so this is a game we are really looking forward to."

Wasps have named an unchanged starting XV for the game with the addition of Mark Robinson the only change to the squad that beat Sale Sharks 22-16 last Sunday. Fly-half Danny Cipriani retains his place in the side following confirmation that he will leave the club at the end of the season to join new Super Rugby franchise the Melbourne Rebels. Winger Paul Sackey is also included in the wake of his decision to quit the club for French Top 14 side Toulon next season.

Wasps' Director of Rugby, Tony Hanks, said, "We were pleased to get the victory against Sale, with a number of players having returned to the side. It was the first time that that group of players had played together in a month, following international call-ups and injuries, and we'll certainly be looking to build on last weekend's performance against Saracens on Sunday.

"While we were disappointed with our results in January, we actually played some good rugby and the last two games against Sale and Newcastle have shown that the players have taken some important lessons from last month's fixtures. The way we've addressed certain areas of concern, in particular our goal kicking, discipline in our half and scrummaging, has been very pleasing.

"We identified this block of games as being very important for all teams in the competition, in terms of positioning come May, and this is the second of two very important home fixtures for us. Combined with the London derby mentality, it sets up Sunday's game as a hugely competitive fixture and the squad are fully focused and motivated to perform well again in front of the Adams Park faithful."

Wasps: Mark Van Gisbergen, Paul Sackey, Ben Jacobs, Steve Kefu, Tom Varndell, Danny Cipriani, Warren Fury, Sakaria Taulafo, Rob Webber (c), Ben Broster, Marty Veale, George Skivington, Joe Worsley, Serge Betsen, Dan Ward-Smith

Replacements: Joe Ward, Gabriel Bocca, Bob Baker, Hugo Ellis, Will Matthews, Mark Robinson, Dave Walder, David Lemi

Saracens: Alex Goode, Noah Cato, Kameli Ratuvou, Brad Barritt, Chris Wyles, Derick Hougaard, Neil de Kock, Matias Aguero, Ethienne Reynecke, Richard Skuse, Hayden Smith, Tom Ryder, Wikus van Heerden (c), Andy Saull, Ernst Joubert

Replacements: Schalk Brits, Rhys Gill, Tom Mercey, Mouritz Botha, Jacques Burger, Justin Marshall, Glen Jackson, Michael Tagicakibau

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