Sarries aiming
HIGH-FLYING Saracens have been boosted by the return of England captain Steve Borthwick as they look to maintain their 100 per cent winning start to the season against Jonny Wilkinson’s Toulon in tonight’s Challenge Cup clash.
Borthwick has missed the last two Sarries matches with an eye injury and joins the likes of Brad Barritt, Chris Wyles, Wikus van Heerden, Andy Saull and Derick Hougaard in returning to the starting ranks.
The England skipper will start in the forward line alongside Ethienne Reynecke, who is handed a debut at hooker, while former All Black Justin Marshall is also given a start at scrum half. Glen Jackson, Neil de Kock, Alex Goode and Hugh Vyvyan all return to the bench.
Sarries currently lead the Premiership table with five successive wins and opened their Challenge Cup account with a bonus point victory over Italian side Rovigo on Saturday.
But director of rugby Brendan Venter expects a much tougher assignment tonight with the visit of the ambitious French outfit, who boast a host of internationals themselves like Wilkinson, fellow Englishman Tom May, Scotland’s Rory Lamont and former Sale loose-forward Juan-Martin Fernandez-Lobbe.
Venter admitted: “It’s going to be a tough challenge but it’s one the players are really looking forward to.
“They are a very good side with a number of quality players in their squad. They had an excellent victory in Castres last weekend and that has really set up the pool for an exciting match. Playing in France on a Thursday night offers a different challenge for the players but it’s one we are really looking forward to.”
Saracens have also signed Samoan international prop Kas Lealamanua.