'They have a pile of momentum' - Saracens make four changes for trip to in-form Bristol Bears as play-off race heats up

Saracens boss Mark McCall has made four changes to his side for their trip to high-flying Bristol Bears in a mouthwatering clash on the penultimate weekend of the regular Gallagher Premiership season.

Bristol have shot up the standings in recent weeks after a six-match winning run propelled them into the fourth and final play-off spot with two games to go.

Sarries, in second, sit just two points above the Bears as they travel to Ashton Gate for Saturday’s clash, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

McCall’s men are hoping to lock down a home semi-final with a top-two finish, with league leaders Northampton Saints four points above them.

But with just six points separating Saracens in second from Exeter Chiefs in seventh, there is still all to play for in the battle for a top-four finish.

Props Mako Vunipola and Marco Riccioni, lock Hugh Tizard and scrum-half Ivan van Zyl have been drafted into the starting XV.

The only change for a Bristol side aiming to win seven in a row in the league for the first time in four years is the return of former Sarries star Max Malins at full-back.

“We know we are playing against a team who have got a pile of momentum,” McCall said.

“They are really clear about how they want to play, and they are running a lot of ball, but they do it in a really well-organised, well-coached way.

“They don’t mind making the odd mistake, and they will keep going on it so we are going to have to be at our very best defensively on Saturday."

Bristol Bears: 15 Malins, 14 Naulago, 13 Janse van Rensburg, 12 Williams, 11 Ibitoye, 10 MacGinty, 9 Randall; 1 Genge, 2 Oghre, 3 Sinckler, 4 Dun, 5 Batley, 6 Luatua, 7 Harding, 8 Bradbury. Replacements: 16 Thacker, 17 Woolmore, 18 Lahiff, 19 Caulfield, 20 Heenan, 21 Marmion, 22 Vakatawa, 23 Heward.

Saracens: 15 Daly, 14 Segun, 13 Cinti, 12 Tompkins, 11 Parton, 10 Farrell, 9 Van Zyl; 1 Vunipola, 2 George, 3 Riccioni, 4 Itoje, 5 Tizard, 6 Gonzalez, 7 Earl, 8 Willis. Replacements: 16 Dan, 17 Mawi, 18 Hoskins, 19 Isiekwe, 20 McFarland, 21 Vunipola, 22 Davies, 23 Goode 

League leaders Northampton make two changes as they look to bounce back from their Investec Champions Cup exit when they host much-changed Gloucester.

Saints suffered defeat to Leinster in Dublin last weekend, but came agonisingly close to a remarkable comeback as they surged back from 20-3 down to lose 20-17.

They will now be looking to focus all their efforts on finishing off a superb Premiership season on a high, with second-bottom Gloucester the visitors on Saturday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Wing Ollie Sleightholme and openside Angus Scott-Young come into the Saints side for the Franklin’s Gardens clash.

Gloucester, fresh off the high of beating Benetton Treviso to reach the EPCR Challenge Cup final, have shuffled the pack by making 11 changes to the starting side.

Northampton Saints: 15 Furbank, 14 Hendy, 13 Freeman, 12 Dingwall, 11 Sleightholme, 10 Smith, 9 Mitchell; 1 Waller, 2 Langdon, 3 Davison, 4 Moon, 5 Coles, 6 Lawes, 7 Scott-Young, 8 Augustus. Replacements: 16 Matayesi, 17 Iyogun, 18 Millar Mills, 19 Mayanavanua, 20 Graham, 21 James, 22 Odendaal, 23 Seabrook.

Gloucester: 15 Hathaway, 14 Hearle, 13 Hillman-Cooper, 12 Reeves, 11 Morris, 10 Atkinson, 9 Varney; 1 Elrington, 2 Socino, 3 Knight, 4 Clark, 5 Thomas, 6 Tuisue, 7 Ludlow, 8 Clement. Replacements: 16 Scarfe, 17 Vivas, 18 Balmain, 19 Eite, 20 Nixon, 21 Chapman, 22 Adderly-Jones, 23 Jones.

Harlequins’ late-season hopes have been boosted by the return of flanker Jack Kenningham after a seven-month injury absence.

The back-rower, who has not featured since getting injured against Bristol last October, has been named on the bench for Saturday’s trip to Exeter Chiefs.

Billy Millard makes four changes to the side who suffered Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Toulouse last weekend as Joe Marler, Will Porter, James Chisholm and Oscar Beard start.

“It’s great to be back in Premiership action this week. We know it will be a tough challenge, Exeter are always difficult to beat at home, but our guys have worked hard this week, they’ve driven our standards in training, and will be ready for a big performance on Saturday,” said Millard.

Exeter boss Rob Baxter has named an unchanged side for the clash at Sandy Park, where a bonus-point win would lift the Chiefs in seventh above fifth-place Quins and put them in the mix for the play-offs going into the final day.  

“The last game of the season will be exciting if we go well this weekend,” Baxter said.

“That’s obviously going to be a big challenge as Harlequins are playing some very good rugby but that said, we win, and we could potentially swap places with them.

“We’re not far apart in terms of performance levels in the Premiership, so we have to make sure that we show that the season has been very important for us in our growth and development.”

Exeter Chiefs: 15 John, 14 Feyi-Waboso, 13 Slade, 12 Hawkins, 11 Woodburn, 10 Skinner, 9 Cairns; 1 Sio, 2 Yeandle, 3 Street, 4 Dunne, 5 Jenkins, 6 Roots, 7 Vermeulen, 8 Fisilau. Replacements: 16 Norey, 17 Keast, 18 Painter, 19 Tshiunza, 20 Vintcent, 21 Armstrong, 22 Haydon-Wood, 23 Wimbush.

Harlequins: 15 Green, 14 Lynagh, 13 Beard, 12 Northmore, 11 Murley, 10 Smith, 9 Porter; 1 Marler, 2 Walker, 3 Collier, 4 Herbst, 5 Lewies, 6 Cunningham-South, 7 Chisholm, 8 Dombrandt. Replacements: 16 Riley, 17 Baxter, 18 Lewis, 19 Hammond, 20 Kenningham, 21 Evans, 22 Care, 23 Evans.

19:45: Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons, TNT Sports 1

15:00: Northampton Saints v Gloucester, TNT Sports Extra

15:05: Bristol Bears v Saracens, TNT Sports 2

17:30: Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins, TNT Sports 2

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