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It's all change for Saracens for clash with record-setting Lawes

By Liam Heagney
(Photo by Rob Newell/CameraSport via Getty Images)

Saracens have named an entirely changed starting XV for their Gallagher Premiership semi-final versus Northampton, restoring all their big names following last weekend’s second-string crash at Bath in the final outing of the regular season.

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A half-dozen of the starters at The Rec – Eroni Mawi, Christian Judge, Callum Hunter-Hill, Toby Knight, Ruben de Haas and Elliot Daly – have been named on the bench for the semi-final fixture at the StoneX.

Northampton, who haven’t had a match since their April 21 win at Newcastle, have made three changes with James Ramm in for Tom Collins on the right wing, Tom Cruse is at hooker for Sam Matavesi and Trevor Davison at tighthead for Paul Hill.

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Courtney Lawes brings up a milestone in the back row for the Saints as he makes his 165th start in the Premiership, taking him past Stephen Myler (164) to a club-record tally of league starts.

With only one of the last 14 Premiership semi-finals being won by the away side on the day, and with Saracens unbeaten in their last 15 home matches in the league, Northampton know they have to tear up the form guide in north London.

Saracens skipper Owen Farell said: “We are excited about it. We are against a good team but now it’s up to us to make the most of it. We want to be at our best but it’s not about what has happened in the past, it’s all about how you perform on the day.

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“When we set our goals at the start of the season, we wanted to ensure we were playing our best rugby when the knockouts came around – so it is a huge day for all of us.”

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SARACENS: 15. Alex Goode; 14. Max Malins, 13. Alex Lozowski, 12. Nick Tompkins, 11. Sean Maitland; 10. Owen Farrell (capt), 9. Ivan Van Zyl; 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Jamie George, 3. Marco Riccioni, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Hugh Tizard, 6. Nick Isiekwe, 7. Ben Earl, 8. Jackson Wray. Reps: 16. Theo Dan, 17. Eroni Mawi, 18. Christian Judge, 19. Callum Hunter-Hill, 20. Toby Knight, 21. Ruben de Haas, 22. Duncan Taylor, 23. Elliot Daly.

NORTHAMPTON: 15. George Furbank; 14. James Ramm, 13. Fraser Dingwall, 12. Rory Hutchinson, 11. Tommy Freeman; 10. Fin Smith, 9. Alex Mitchell; 1. Alex Waller, 2. Tom Cruse, 3. Trevor Davison, 4. David Ribbans, 5. Alex Moon, 6. Courtney Lawes, 7. Lewis Ludlam (capt), 8. Juarno Augustus. Reps: 16. Robbie Smith, 17. Ethan Waller, 18. Paul Hill, 19. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20. Angus Scott-Young, 21. Sam Graham, 22. Tom James, 23. Tom Collins.

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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