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CO-CAPTAINS RETURN FOR SARACENS CLASH AT THE STOOP

HORWILL AND ROBSHAW RETURN TO THE STARTING XV FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE OCTOBER

Harlequins co-captains James Horwill and Chris Robshaw both return to the starting XV to play Saracens at The Stoop in the Premiership Rugby Cup on Saturday (kick-off: 15:00).

Both forwards last played for Quins in the Gallagher Premiership match against Saracens in October and form part of a pack that sees seven changes from the side that won in Agen last week.

Mark Lambert, Elia Elia and Josh Ibuanokpe make up the front row with Horwill and Dino Lamb at Lock while Luke Wallace, who did start in France last Friday, is in the Back Row alongside Robshaw and Renaldo Bothma at Number eight.

In the back division Ben Tapuai and Gabriel Ibitoye remain in the starting XV from last week and are joined by half-backs Charlie Mulchrone and James Lang who came on as Game Changers in France. Aaron Morris starts at Outside centre, Charlie Walker is on the Right wing and Ross Chisholm plays at Full-back.

Acting Head Coaches Adam Jones and Nick Evans praised the resilience of Robshaw and Horwill as they return to the starting XV and said they were relishing the opportunity to play Saracens in front of a sell-out crowd at The Stoop.

“Both James and Chris have shown incredible perseverance and determination to get themselves back in consideration for selection and we know everyone will be getting behind them as they resume their duties for us this weekend,” said Jones.

Evans added: “We know it will be a special occasion at a packed Stoop and our matches with Saracens rarely disappoint. We have been pleased with the momentum we have generated of late and now we are looking forward to putting another performance we are capable of and one our supporters can be proud of.

“We are in a great position to rotate our squad and give some well-deserved opportunities to some players who we are looking forward to watching perform.”

Harlequins squad to play Saracens (h) Kick-off: 15:00
15 Ross Chisholm (94)
14 Charlie Walker (92)
13 Aaron Morris (29)
12 Ben Tapuai (11)
11 Gabriel Ibitoye (14)
10 James Lang (38)
9 Charlie Mulchrone (34) 

1 Mark Lambert (238)
2 Elia Elia (27)
3 Josh Ibuanokpe (5)
4 Dino Lamb (15)
5 James Horwill (Co-captain, 57)
6 Chris Robshaw (Co-captain, 262)
7 Luke Wallace (168)
8 Renaldo Bothma (20)

Game Changers
16 Dave Ward (159)
17 Nick Auterac (5)
18 Phil Swainston (18)
19 Stan South (26)
20 Archie White (26)
21 Dave Lewis (23)
22 Demetri Catrakilis (10)
23 Paul Lasike (9)

Not considered for selection
Alofa Alofa
Lewis Boyce
Mike Brown
Rob Buchanan
Danny Care
Henry Cheeseman
James Chisholm
Jack Clifford
Will Collier
Max Crumpton
Alex Dombrandt
Nathan Earle
Ben Glynn
Semi Kunatani
Mat Luamanu
Joe Marchant
Joe Marler
Josh McNulty
George Merrick
Cadan Murley
Niall Saunders
Francis Saili
Kyle Sinckler
Marcus Smith
Matt Symons
Tim Visser
Calum Waters

Saracens head to Harlequins with eight changes from their last Premiership Rugby Cup outing back in November.

Christian Judge has since returned to Cornish Pirates so USA international Titi Lamositele packs down alongside Richard Barrington and Tom Woolstencroft in the front row – the latter coming in for Christopher Tolofua.

England Under-20 lock Joel Kpoku joins Welsh veteran Dom Day, an ever-present in the competition, in the boiler while there is an all new back row of Nick Isiekwe, Sean Reffell and Sione Vailanu.

In the backs, Alex Lozowski returns to outside centre and winger Rotimi Segun makes his first competitive start of the season.

Saracens team to face Harlequins at The Stoop in the Premiership Rugby Cup on Saturday 26thJanuary (KO 15H00):

FORWARDS: Richard Barrington (154), Tom Woolstencroft (11), Titi Lamositele (63), Dom Day (24), Joel Kpoku (5), Nick Isiekwe (48), Sean Reffell (5), Sione Vailanu (7).

BACKS: Matt Gallagher (24), Ali Crossdale (5), Alex Lozowski (76), Dom Morris (8), Rotimi Segun (7), Max Malins (20), Tom Whiteley (21).

REPLACEMENTS: Joe Gray (3), Ralph Adams-Hale (3), Billy Walker (6), Will Skelton (45), Jackson Wray (213), Henry Taylor (11), Manu Vunipola (0), Tom Griffiths (2).

Great to see Robshaw, Horwill and Lasike back.

What's the deal with ticketing for this? Is it included in the Season Ticket, or do we have to claim / order it separately?

Great to see Robshaw, Horwill and Lasike back.

What's the deal with ticketing for this? Is it included in the Season Ticket, or do we have to claim / order it separately?

It’s included.

Great to see Robshaw and Horwill back

“We are in a great position to rotate our squad"

That's a great way to say we can't get out of the group!

Also is "Manu Vunipola" some sort of hybridisation experiment trying to combine Tuilagi's power with Mako's passing?

Are we definitely out?

Yep , 4 go through , we only have 5 points now and 4 teams already have 11 points ... we are playing for the shirt and  stopping Sarries going through .