Saracens’ director of rugby Mark McCall praised his side for how they upped their game to dominate the second half and claim a 36-14 victory against Gloucester at the StoneX Stadium.
Saracens player ratings: Mark McCall's Sarries' 29-22 triumph at Mattioli Woods Welford Road was a testament to their lightning-fast start and an impressive second-half surge.
England lock Ollie Chessum will return to Leicester Tigers' starting XV on Sunday as his side host Saracens in the Gallagher Premiership.
England captain Maro Itoje will return to captain a Saracens side containing four of his international team-mates during the Guinness Six Nations when they host Harlequins in the Gallagher Premiership on Saturday.
Exeter Chiefs are confident that England star Henry Slade, one of the players awarded an enhanced contract by the RFU, will sign a new contract to remain with the club when his current one expires at the end of the season.
Last week’s post-Christmas block of fixtures took us beyond the halfway point in this season’s Gallagher Premiership and a number of the round nine results have certainly whetted the appetite as English ruby welcomes in the new year.
In just a few days another season of the Top 14 kicks off with the likes of Owen Farrell, Siya Kolisi, Josua Tuisova, and Davit Niniashvili making the numbers of the overseas players ready to make the headlines and wrestle for the title.
Argentina head coach Michael Cheika has named his matchday 23 to face Japan in Nantes on Sunday, with Santiago Carreras returning at fly-half in place of Nicolas Sanchez.