Thursday 11 September 2014

Aviva Premiership: Harlequins take on Saracens at Twickenham Stoop

marland yarde harlequins


Marland Yarde: Set to make home debut for Harlequins


AVIVA PREMIERSHIP RUGBY RUGBY UNION LONDON IRISH V HARLEQUINS OLLIE LINDSAY-HAGUE


Ollie Lindsay-Hague: Will start for Harlequins against London neighbours Saracens




Harlequins will be eager to gain revenge over London neighbours Saracens when they go head-to-head in a repeat of the Aviva Premiership semi-final clash from May at Twickenham Stoop.


Sarries were victorious 31-17 that day to reach the final where they suffered a dramatic and heartbreaking extra-time loss to Northampton Saints.


On the opening weekend of the 2014-15 season, both clubs got off to winning starts with Quins beating London Irish in a hard-fought encounter 20-15 while Saracens held off Wasps in a thrilling 34-28 win.


In one change to the squad which beat the Exiles last weekend, Ollie Lindsay-Hague starts on the left wing in place of Ugo Monye who is expected to be out of action for three months through injury.


Marland Yarde will make his senior home debut and Charlie Walker has been named among the replacements.


After falling at the semi-final stage in the play-offs for the last two years Lindsay-Hague believes a good start to the season from Quins will give them the confidence of making it all the way this time around.


However, their only victory over Saracens in their last eleven fixtures since 2009 was 24-19 at Wembley on 31 March 2012.


“Every year is different and we know we have to start well but we will see where we are after five games,” said the 23-year-old full-back.


“Losing in the semi-finals for the last two years has been tough. We want to win trophies and those losses have made us a little bit hungrier this time around.”


Sarries have won their opening two games of the season for the past two years and head coach Mark McCall makes one change to the starting XV that beat Wasps, with Jackson Wray replacing Kelly Brown at blindside flanker.


Harlequins: 15. Mike Brown, 14. Marland Yarde, 13. Matt Hopper, 12. Jordan Turner-Hall, 11. Ollie Lindsay-Hague, 10. Nick Evans, 9. Danny Care; 1. Joe Marler (c), 2. Joe Gray, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Charlie Matthews, 5. George Robson, 6. Luke Wallace, 7. Chris Robshaw, 8. Nick Easter.


Replacements: 16. Rob Buchanan, 17. Mark Lambert, 18. Will Collier, 19. George Merrick, 20. Jack Clifford, 21. Karl Dickson, 22. Ben Botica, 23. Charlie Walker.


Saracens: 15. Alex Goode; 14. Chris Ashton, 13. Duncan Taylor, 12. Brad Barritt, 11. David Strettle; 10. Charlie Hodgson, 9. Richard Wigglewsorth; 1. Richard Barrington, 2. Jamie George, 3. Kieran Longbottom, 4. George Kruis, 5. Alistair Hargreaves (c), 6. Jackson Wray, 7. Will Fraser, 8. Billy Vunipola.


Replacements: 16. Scott Spurling, 17. Rhys Gill, 18. Petrus Du Plessis, 19. Mouritz Botha, 20. Kelly Brown, 21. Ben Spencer, 22. Owen Farrell, 23. Chris Wyles.



Article source: http://www.espnscrum.com/2015-rugby-world-cup/rugby/story/232977.html


Aviva Premiership: Harlequins take on Saracens at Twickenham Stoop

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