Match Preview: Saracens vs Exeter Chiefs

Match Preview: Saracens vs Exeter Chiefs

Saracens will be eager to maintain their perfect start to the new Gallagher Premiership Rugby season as they take on an Exeter Chiefs side who are yet to kick into gear.

Sarries sit top of the league with two bonus point wins from as many games and will be in high spirits after securing an emphatic 45-26 victory over Sale Sharks last weekend.

Embarking on a new era at StoneX Stadium, Saracens have shown few signs of struggle post-Owen Farrell thus far and will look to continue in fine stead against Chiefs - albeit without Maro Itoje, who was forced off against Sharks through injury.

Rob Baxter’s visiting side have in comparison endured a winless start to the campaign, suffering a last-gasp defeat to Leicester Tigers on the opening day before succumbing to reigning champions Northampton Saints in Round 2.

Desperate to get their season on track, Chiefs travel to a ground that has only inflicted heartache in years gone by and are without a win in north London since November 2017.


Hopeful of ending the rut in North London, Baxter hands Will Goodrick-Clarke his first Chiefs start at loosehead while hooker Jack Yeandle takes back the captain’s armband in the absence of Scott Sio.

Jack Dunne comes into the starting line-up to join Christ Tshiunza in the second row and Greg Fisilau returns to bring power at number eight with Ethan Roots and Richard Capstick on the flanks.


For Sarries, Jamie George comes in to start his first match of the season at hooker, and he has Rhys Carre and Marco Riccioni for company in the front row.

Nick Isiekwe starts in the engine room with Hugh Tizard, replacing the injured Itoje. Ivan van Zyl captains the side in an unchanged back line.

TV: Live on TNT, kick-off 3pm

Referee: Karl Dickson

Assistant Referees: Joe James & Jonathan Healy

TMO: David Rose

Team News 

Saracens: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Tobias Elliott, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Rotimi Segun, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Ivan van Zyl (C), 1 Rhys Carre, 2 Jamie George, 3 Marco Riccioni, 4 Nick Isiekwe, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Theo McFarland, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Tom Willis.

Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Ollie Hoskins, 19 Andy Onyeama-Christie, 20 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 21 Toby Knight, 22 Charlie Bracken, 23 Alex Goode

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Josh Hodge, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Olly Woodburn, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Ben Hammersley, 10 Will Haydon-Wood, 9 Sam Maunder, 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Jack Yeandle (C), 3 Marcus Street, 4 Jack Dunne, 5 Christ Tshiunza, 6 Ethan Roots, 7 Richard Capstick, 8 Greg Fisilau.

Replacements: 16 Jack Innard, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Rusi Tuima, 20 Martin Moloney, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Harvey Skinner, 23 Will Rigg

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