SARACENS BOSS MARK McCall has left the majority of his England front-liners at home for tomorrow’s Heineken Champions Cup clash with Munster in Limerick [KO 5.30pm, BT Sport].
Maro Itoje will start alongside Australian lock Will Skelton in a beefy second row, but Saracens have opted not to pick the likes of Owen Farrell, Mako and Billy Vunipola, Jamie George, George Kruis, and Elliot Daly.
Having been deducted 35 points for breaching the salary cap regulations, Saracens are prioritising the Premiership this season and their England internationals’ game time must be managed over the course of the campaign.
Munster will still have to deal with many excellent players such as Itoje, outstanding openside flanker Ben Earl, and captain Brad Barritt but Saracens’ decision to omit their star players is a big boost for the Irish province’s hopes of a victory.
After a draw with Racing 92 on their most recent European outing at Thomond Park, Munster will be keen to show their quality in Limerick tomorrow.
England scrum-half Ben Spencer starts for Sarries, with 19-year-old Manu Vunipola, the cousin of Billy and Mako, at out-half for the visit to Thomond Park.
Barritt’s experience alongside the England-capped Alex Lozowski will be important for McCall’s side, which includes 22-year-old Rotimi Segun on the right wing.
England international hooker Jack Singleton is in between Richard Barrington and US international Titi Lamositele in a solid front row, while the athletic Nick Isiekwe joins Earl and Jackson Wray in a back row that will relish taking on Munster.
Saracens:
15. Matt Gallagher
14. Rotimi Segun
13. Alex Lozowski
12. Brad Barritt (captain)
11. Alex Lewington
10. Manu Vunipola
9. Ben Spencer
1. Richard Barrington
2. Jack Singleton
3. Titi Lamositele
4. Will Skelton
5. Maro Itoje
6. Nick Isiekwe
7. Ben Earl
8. Jackson Wray
Replacements:
16. Kapeli Pifeleti
17. Rhys Carre
18. Josh Ibuanokpe
19. Joel Kpoku
20. Sean Reffell
21. Tom Whiteley
22. Max Malins
23. Nick Tompkins
