Home SPORTS Investec Champions Cup: Saracens v Lyon – team news

Investec Champions Cup: Saracens v Lyon – team news

Number eight Billy Vunipola returns to the Saracens side for their game with Lyon in the Champions Cup
Venue: StoneX Stadium Date: Saturday, 20 January Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Coverage: Listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, BBC Sport website and app, with live text updates, report & reaction also available on the BBC Sport website & app

Saracens make four changes to the side thrashed in Bordeaux for their final Investec Champions Cup pool match with Lyon at StoneX Stadium.

Rotimi Segun and Lucio Cinti are named on the wings, while Juan Martin Gonzalez comes into the back-row and Billy Vunipola starts at number eight.

Lyon have already secured their place in the round of 16.

Saracens can qualify for the next stage with a losing bonus, but Bristol will have to leave Connacht with nothing.

If Bristol claim all five points on offer in Ireland, then the home side will also need to win with a bonus point and better Bristol’s scoreline by two points.

Should Bristol fail to claim anything in Galway, a losing bonus or a smaller losing margin by at least two points may be enough for three-time winners Saracens to go through if Connacht do not take the full five.

Sarries have lost five of their past seven matches, including a 55-15 defeat by Bordeaux Begles in their last pool game.

“It was a tough result to take last week. Having said that, we’re grateful that all the boys are fit and healthy and we can start building from what essentially is the bottom,” said Billy Vunipola.

There are things for us to build on. If we can get our foundations right, I’m sure we will be alright.

“We’ll get better and I’m sure we will be in the mix by the end of this tournament.”

New England captain Jamie George is understood to be unavailable after reportedly having an injection in his neck, although he is expected to be fit for the start of the Six Nations next month.

Line-ups

Saracens: Goode; Segun, Daly, Tompkins, Cinti, Farrell (capt), Van Zyl; Mulipola, Dan, Judge, Itoje, Isiekwe, Gonzalez, Earl, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Hadfield, Crean, Hoskins, Tizard, Knight, Simpson, Hartley, Parton.

Lyon: Tchaptchet; Ioane, Parisien, Maraku, Niniashvili; Berdeu, Rimet; Rey, Charcosset, Kaabeche, Kpoku, Vignolles, Okuya, William, Gouzou.

Replacements: Coltman, Taofifenua, Tafili, Goujon, Lambey, Dumas, Godwin, Smith.

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