45pm, ITV Bristol Bears v London IrishHenry Arundell starts for London Irish in an exciting back-line (Picture: Getty Images)Saturday 24 September, 3pm kick-offThe Bears will hope to ride the momentum generated from their big win at Wasps last weekend with Ellis Genge returning to the front row and AJ MacGinty making his first competitive start at his new club. Harry Thacker returning to the bench from injury is also an exciting prospect. Irish take an exciting young team to Ashton Gate, with Henry Arundell, Will Joseph and Chandler Cunningham-South all starting as they hope to bounce back from defeat at Northampton last week. Director of rugby Declan Kidney has shrewdly talked up the credentials of his “in-form” opponents this week: “Bristol Bears have started the season with two wins from two games in the Gallagher Premiership and are a well-drilled outfit under Pat Lam.
Ollie Chessum and George Martin joined the forward pack. Pollard’s first contribution was a break through midfield, and Tigers broke again from deep shortly afterwards, gaining a penalty which led to set-piece pressure until Cronin drove for the line again, only to be held up under the posts. Martin broke through two tacklers to get Tigers forward again and the next scrum brought a penalty which Tigers used to create position for the second try, with Steward scoring for a fourth time in eight days after strong work up front and then by Watson and Cokanasiga to spin out of contact and dot down in the left corner.
Jack van Poortvliet is also set to play his 50th Tigers match, an impressive milestone for the young England No 9, also named as vice-captain. Northampton Saints: 15 George Furbank, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Matt Proctor, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Alex Mitchell, 1 Emmanuel Iyogun, 2 Sam Matavesi, 3 Alfie Petch, 4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5 Alex Coles, 6 Courtney Lawes, 7 Lewis Ludlam (c), 8 Juarno Augustus; Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Alex Moon, 20 Angus Scott-Young, 21 Tom James, 22 James Grayson, 23 Tom Collins Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Guy Porter, 12 Jimmy Gopperth, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 1 James Cronin, 2 Charlie Clare, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Ollie Chessum, 5 Calum Green, 6 George Martin, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Hanro Liebenberg (c); Replacements: 16 Joe Taufete’e, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Olly Cracknell, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Phil Cokanasiga, 23 Chris Ashton Prediction: Leicester by six More from Rugby UnionSaracens v Gloucester RugbySaturday 24 September, 3pm kick-offSaracens’ first home game of the season will see their new West Stand surely rocking after a win over rivals Harlequins, as they welcome the Cherry and Whites.
Saracens v Leicester Tigers (Gallagher Premiership) - Saturday, October 1, kick-off 3. 00pmLeicester Tigers suffered a 51-18 defeat at Saracens in Round 4 of the Gallagher Premiership season on Saturday. Saracens had started the season with two bonus-point wins, against Harlequins and Gloucester, and they added a third, setting the foundations with four tries in the first half and then adding three more after the break to fend off Tigers who scored through James Cronin and Freddie Steward. The Tigers team showed eight changes to the line-up from the win at Northampton Saints in Round 3, with Anthony Watson making his debut and fellow summer signings Phil Cokanasiga and Olly Cracknell given a first start.
i's guide to Premiership rugby round 3 - team news, fixtures, predictions and TV detailsThe third round of Premiership rugby beckons amid a week of financial uncertainty for both Worcester Warriors and Wasps as the focus shifts from administration and takeovers to matchdays. Saracens will look to ride the wave of last weekend’s hard-fought win at the Stoop back to their first home game of the season, as Newcastle seek to detach the emotion of the situation from performance at Sixways in seeking their first win of the season.
Theo McFarland continues to impress in the second row while Mako Vunipola and Jamie George return to add heft and skill. Gloucester’s task here feels a little tall, even if they’re bringing in new signing Albert Tuisue at No. 8 for his debut. Saracens: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Max Malins, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Duncan Taylor, 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Owen Farrell (c), 8 Ivan van Zyl, 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Christian Judge, 4 Theo McFarland, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Andy Christie, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Billy Vunipola; Replacements: 16 Tom Woolstencroft, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Callum Hunter-Hill, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Manu Vunipola, 23 Josh Hallett Gloucester Rugby: 15 Lloyd Evans, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Ben Meehan, 1 Harry Elrington, 2 Jack Singleton, 3 Fraser Balmain, 4 Freddie Clarke, 5 Alex Craig, 6 Ruan Ackermann (c), 7 Harry Taylor 8 Albert Tuisue; Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Val Rapava-Ruskin, 18 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 19.
After a missed conversion, Tigers were quickly back into rival territory and rewarded with a lineout penalty when Harry Wells was impeded. But they were frustrated by the defence, first as Theo McFarland clawed lineout ball back and then when with a penalty on the floor just 10 metres out from the tryline. A Tommy Reffell turnover gained reward on the edge of the Saracens 22, but when they went for the lineout the whistle went the other way for obstruction just as the flanker linked with Charlie Clare at the front. Retribution came quickly as Daly scored a fifth tr