Charles Piutau appears in a Bristol Bears squad for the first time in more than two months, taking his place on the bench for their clash with Saracens at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Former New Zealand international Piutau has been out of action since the Champions Cup win over Scarlets on January 22 due to an Achilles injury and, after director of rugby Pat Lam hinted in midweek the superstar is among a group “not far off” from returning to action, he’s been named in the 23.
Bedford loanee Rich Lane, who has impressed in his two appearances at full-back, continues in a starting role but Piutau is likely to be afforded some gametime in north London as his return is a timely one for the Bears.
With their Premiership play-off hopes having drifted away, the Champions Cup is their only avenue remaining for silverware and with Sale Sharks awaiting in the last 16 on April 15, Piutau now has three matchweeks to get back to full fitness.
Lam has made eight changes to his starting line-up from the team that thrashed Bath 61-19 in the Premiership Cup last week with Harry Randall returning at scrum half following his Six Nations exploits with England.
Kyle Sinckler hasn’t been named in the squad after a back injury and then concussion prevented his full involvement for England in their final two Six Nations matches against Ireland and France. Wales fly half Callum Sheedy, meanwhile, is among the replacements with Tiff Eden at 10.
“It’s always tough against Saracens,” said Lam. “They play the Saracens Way and when we look back (on the opening day of the season, when Bears lost 26-9), it was physical but what cost us was discipline. You can’t afford to be chasing the game against Saracens because they can go into their mode of shutting you down so you have to work hard and be disciplined.
“We know the physicality of their game and we pride ourselves on bringing that but there is a lot of strategy when you try to beat them. There are certain things that we like to do that we have to be careful in doing, because they have their way of playing.”
Saracens have named England No10 Owen Farrell in their XV in what will be his first appearance since November due to an ankle injury which kept him out of the duration of the Six Nations. Sarries also include former Bears loanees Ben Earl and Max Malins.
Saracens: Alex Goode, Max Malins, Alex Lozowski, Nick Tompkins, Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell (c), Aled Davies; Richard Barrington, Jamie George, Vincent Koch, Maro Itoje, Nick Isiekwe, Jackson Wray, Ben Earl, Billy Vunipola; Replacements: Tom Woolstencroft, Eroni Mawi, Sam Wainwright, Tim Swinson, Andy Christie, Ruben de Haas, Duncan Taylor, Sean Maitland
Bristol Bears: Rich Lane, Alapati Leiua, Piers O’Conor, Antoine Frisch, Jack Bates, Tiff Eden, Harry Randall; Jake Woolmore, Harry Thacker, Jake Armstrong, Dave Attwood, Joe Joyce (c), Chris Vui, Dan Thomas, Fitz Harding (25 apps); System players: Jake Kerr, Yann Thomas, John Afoa, Sam Jeffries, Max Green, Callum Sheedy, Semi Radradra, Charles Piutau
