Harlequins v Saracens: Saturday 3pm

[SDHoneymonster]

Harlequins:
1. Joe Marler
2. George Head
3. Will Collier
4. George Hammond
5. Irne Herbst
6. Jack Kenningham
7. Will Evans
8. Alex Dombrandt (c)

9. Lewis Gjaltema
10. Tommaso Allan
11. Cadan Murley
12. Lennox Anyanwu
13. Luke Northmore
14. Joe Marchant
15. Tyrone Green

REPLACEMENTS: 16. Jack Walker, 17. Simon Kerrod, 18. Wilco Louw, 19. Dino Lamb, 20. Archie White, 21. Jack Stafford, 22. Will Edwards, 23. Hayden Hyde.

Saracens:
1. Eroni Mawi
2. Tom Woolstencroft
3. Christian Judge
4. Maro Itoje
5. Hugh Tizard
6. Theo McFarland
7. Ben Earl
8. Billy Vunipola

9. Ivan van Zyl
10. Owen Farrell (c)
11. Alex Lewington
12. Nick Tompkins
13. Alex Lozowski
14. Max Malins
15. Elliot Daly

REPLACEMENTS: 16. Jamie George, 17. Mako Vunipola, 18. Alec Clarey, 19. Andy Christie, 20. Jackson Wray, 21. Aled Davies, 22. Manu Vunipola, 23. Duncan Taylor.

Couple of stray thoughts: I've literally never heard of any of Quins' back replacements, and that starting Sarries lock/back row unit

[Epaminondas Pules]

Stafford has been there for 2 or 3 years now as a backup, backup, backup SH. Edwards was ex-7s and Hyde was in Quins academy, signed pro terms with Ulster and then came back to Quins last year. Big unit.

[Mellsblue]

Please let this be on BT.

[Puja]

Please let this be on BT.

It is indeed. Really excited to see how Anyanwu goes in a big test.

Puja

[Danno]

Good to see those "mandatory" rest periods being adhered to.

[twitchy]

Please let this be on BT.

I was ready for a televised game last night.

[Puja]

Please let this be on BT.

I was ready for a televised game last night.

With the queen dead? You monster!

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Good to see those "mandatory" rest periods being adhered to.

Yeah they seem to be so arbitrary as to be pretty much meaningless. Does having random weekends off throughout the season really have the same effect when some of these guys have been playing continuously for the best part of 2 years?

[Scrumhead]

More to the point, our team announcement made it clear that we asked for Smith to be available but weren’t given permission. How can that possibly be fair when Farrell, Itoje, Billy and Mako are allowed to play for Saracens and Genge was allowed to play last week for Bristol.

I’m fine with there being a rest period - I’m not fine with those rules not seeming to apply consistently.

[Puja]

More to the point, our team announcement made it clear that we asked for Smith to be available but weren’t given permission. How can that possibly be fair when Farrell, Itoje, Billy and Mako are allowed to play for Saracens and Genge was allowed to play last week for Bristol.

I’m fine with there being a rest period - I’m not fine with those rules not seeming to apply consistently.

The only suggestion that I might have is whether Smith breached maximum number of games last season (which is 32, I think?). Steward did, through being ever present for Leicester and England, but we were allowed to play him in the Prem final, on the understanding that he'd get more rest this season. Maybe it's the same for Smith?

Puja

[FKAS]

More to the point, our team announcement made it clear that we asked for Smith to be available but weren’t given permission. How can that possibly be fair when Farrell, Itoje, Billy and Mako are allowed to play for Saracens and Genge was allowed to play last week for Bristol.

I’m fine with there being a rest period - I’m not fine with those rules not seeming to apply consistently.

The only suggestion that I might have is whether Smith breached maximum number of games last season (which is 32, I think?). Steward did, through being ever present for Leicester and England, but we were allowed to play him in the Prem final, on the understanding that he'd get more rest this season. Maybe it's the same for Smith?

Puja

Smith played in 30 games, starting 27. On that basis he may have been told he has to have the full 10 weeks. Itoje played in 27 games though and was on the Lions Tour last summer, surprised he's been allowed back.

[Mellsblue]

More to the point, our team announcement made it clear that we asked for Smith to be available but weren’t given permission. How can that possibly be fair when Farrell, Itoje, Billy and Mako are allowed to play for Saracens and Genge was allowed to play last week for Bristol.

I’m fine with there being a rest period - I’m not fine with those rules not seeming to apply consistently.

The only suggestion that I might have is whether Smith breached maximum number of games last season (which is 32, I think?). Steward did, through being ever present for Leicester and England, but we were allowed to play him in the Prem final, on the understanding that he'd get more rest this season. Maybe it's the same for Smith?

Puja

Smith played in 30 games, starting 27. On that basis he may have been told he has to have the full 10 weeks. Itoje played in 27 games though and was on the Lions Tour last summer, surprised he's been allowed back.

Itoje didn’t play all three tests so he might have had 10 weeks already.

[Mikey Brown]

Ah. Reservoir dogs. Took me a minute.

[Puja]

Odds on Tizard receiving a few cheap shots?

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Nobody knew which song they were singing there did they.

[Mikey Brown]

Dombrandt looked fucked there. Not sure what’s up with him or if he’ll stay on too long.

[twitchy]

Very enjoyable so far.

[FKAS]

The Kenningham and Evans combo is the nightmare to play against we all thought it would be. Making Sarries work very hard to secure their own ball.

Quins look sharp and Sarries do not. Looks miserable for Sarries so far but Quins can't let up as Sarries might play their way into form the longer the game goes on.

[Mr Mwenda]

Please let this be on BT.

It is indeed. Really excited to see how Anyanwu goes in a big test.

Puja

Safe to say he is definitely gonna learn from this.

[Mikey Brown]

Sarries just sort of bypassing the breakdown now. Fair play.

[Mellsblue]

Anyanwu is having a rough few mins in d.

[Mikey Brown]

Quite a contribution from Dombrandt considering he didn’t seem to be able to run.

Earl is so incredibly annoying but he really keeps defences on their toes.

[FKAS]

Sarries just sort of bypassing the breakdown now. Fair play.

Yeah they are really forcing the offloading game and trying to play wide. Making errors as they do it but it's taking the Kenningham/Evans combination out of the game and is exposing some iffy Quins defending in the backs.

[Mr Mwenda]

Good game this.

[Mikey Brown]

Just waiting for the Sarries bench to take effect, particularly as we’ve already used Louw/White and have some very green options on the backs.