Premiership: Sarries to step it up

Saracens flyhalf Charlie Hodgson knows that his side will have to raise their game considerably when they face Harlequins on Friday.


Hodgson got the nod to start the Premiership season opener against Wasps in the London Double Header last weekend.


The last-gasp 34-28 victory, helped largely by David Strettle's hat-trick, has given Sarries a solid start to the new campaign.


Hodgson admits that his side will have to improve on their performance against Wasps if they are to challenge for top spot again this season.


"It was a tough start but we managed to get over the line and secure the five points, which is the main thing," added Hodgson.


"We never think (that the game is lost), you have to keep going until the end until that chance of winning has gone, when the final whistle goes.


"It's a measure of the belief we have in the squad, as a team as a whole and the belief in each other as players.


"There's always a feeling that we can win, from any situation, and that's important.


"It wasn't best of performances (against Wasps), so there's still a lot of things to work on, but it's still very early in the season and there's a long way to go."


All the weekend's teams and match details:


Friday, September 12


Harlequins v Saracens

(Twickenham Stoop - Kick-off: 19.45; 18.45 GMT)


Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 Matt Hopper, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Ollie Lindsay-Hague, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Chris Robshaw, 6 Luke Wallace, 5 George Robson, 4 Charlie Matthews, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Joe Gray, 1 Joe Marler (captain).

Replacements: 16 Rob Buchanan, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Will Collier, 19 George Merrick, 20 Jack Clifford, 21 Karl Dickson, 22 Ben Botica, 23 Charlie Walker.


Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 David Strettle, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Richard Wigglewsorth, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Will Fraser, 6 Jackson Wray, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 George Kruis, 3 Kieran Longbottom, 2 Jamie George, 1 Richard Barrington.

Replacements: 16 Scott Spurling, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Petrus Du Plessis, 19 Mouritz Botha, 20 Kelly Brown, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Chris Wyles.


Referee: Wayne Barnes

Assistant referees: Paul Dix, Ashley Rowden

TMO: David Grashoff


Saturday, September 13


Bath v London Welsh

(Recreation Ground - Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)


Bath: TBC


London Welsh: TBC


Referee: Matthew Carley

Assistant referees: Ross Campbell, Roger Baileff

TMO: Trevor Fisher


Gloucester v Sale Sharks

(Kingsholm - Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)


Gloucester: TBC


Sale Sharks: TBC


Referee: Greg Garner

Assistant referees: Stuart Terheege, Kelvin Stewart

TMO: David Sainsbury


Exeter Chiefs v Leicester Tigers

(Sandy Park - Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)

Referee: JP Doyle

Assistant referees: Paul Burton, Gordon Goodliffe

TMO: Rowan Kitt


Sunday, September 14


London Wasps v Northampton Saints

(Adams Park - Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 

Wasps: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Chris Bell, 11 Tom Varndell, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 James Haskell (captain) 6 Ashley Johnson, 5 James Gaskell , 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Carlo Festuccia, 1 Matt Mullan.

Replacements: 16 Tom Lindsay, 17 John Yapp, 18 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 19 Kearnan Myall, 20 Guy Thompson, 21 Charlie Davies, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Rob Miller.

Referee: Luke Pearce

Assistant referees: Andy Watson, Nigel Carrick

TMO: Geoffrey Warren


Newcastle Falcons v London Irish

(Kingston Park - Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 GMT)

Referee: Andrew Small

Assistant referfees: Gareth Copsey, Peter Huckle

TMO: Sean Davey