EDF Energy Cup - : Gaffney shuffles his Saracens side

Alan Dickens skippers Sarries

Gaffney shuffles his Saracens side

25 October 2007, 11:54 am

Saracens travel to Leeds Carnegie on Friday night as they begin their challenge on the EDF Energy Cup and Director of Rugby Alan Gaffney has named his squad for the trip to Yorkshire.

Gaffney has shuffled his pack for the game and gives an opportunity to some fresh faces and also reintroduces internationals into the squad after World Cup duty.

Italian hooker Fabio Ongaro makes a return to the starting line-up while Fiji captain Moses Rauluni takes up a place on the bench. In other changes, Tom Ryder, Paul Gustard, Tom Mercey and Gordon Ross return to the starting line-up. There are also debuts for Guthrie Hall and Daniel van der Merwe � the Canadian wing who joined the Men In Black on a short term contract at the conclusion of the World Cup.

Scrum half Alan Dickens captains the side on the return to his former club.

�We�ve decided to give an opportunity to a few of the guys this weekend and we will have to utilise the full depth of the squad over the season if we are to be competitive in all three competitions,� explained Gaffney. �After doing well in the league last season, the next step and challenge for this squad is to compete in all tournaments. To do that, everyone will have to play their part and if we play to our strengths and focus on our own performance, we can get the result we want on Friday night.�

Long-term injury victims Brent Russell, Cobus Visagie, Matias Aguero and Dan Scarbrough miss the game along with Francisco Leonelli, Kameli Ratuvou, Sakiusa Matadigo and Cencus Johnston who all have knocks. Andy Farrell is still recovering from the calf injury he picked up while on England World Cup duty.

Saracens team vs Leeds Carnegie

15 Richard Haughton
14 Daniel van der Merwe
13 Rodd Penney
12 Craig McMullen
11 Edd Thrower
10 Gordon Ross
9 Alan Dickens �
1 Nick Lloyd
2 Fabio Ongaro
3 Tom Mercey
4 Kris Chesney
5 Tom Ryder
6 Paul Gustard
7 David Seymour
8 Guthrie Hall

16 Andy Kyriacou
17 Aaron Liffchak
18 Hugh Vyvyan
19 Don Barrell
20 Moses Rauluni
21 Kevin Sorrell
22 Noah Cato