Preview: Saracens (a) - Gallagher Premiership

• Date: Sunday, December 21st
• Kick-off: 3pm
• Competition: Gallagher Premiership
• Where: Allianz Park
• Referee: Tom Foley (71st Premiership game). Assistant Referees: Michael Hudson & Roy Maybank. TMO: Graham Hughes. Citing Officer: Danae Zamboulis.
• Media coverage: BBC Radio Bristol, Channel 5 Highlights 
• Tickets: Click here to purchase tickets for the match.

Charles Piutau returns to the starting line-up as Bristol Bears face the Premiership champions Saracens on Saturday (3pm KO).

The All Black is one of six changes from the side that beat Stade Francais last weekend to maintain a 100% record in the European Challenge Cup.

Pat Lam’s men head to Allianz Park second in the top-flight and unbeaten in seven games.

The Director of Rugby welcomes back Luke Morahan and Andy Uren to the backline, while Sam Bedlow makes his first Premiership start of the season in the midfield.

Bristol Bears team to face Saracens at Allianz Park on Saturday, December 21st (3pm KO):

15. Charles Piutau; 14. Luke Morahan, 13. Piers O’Conor, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Toby Fricker; 10. Callum Sheedy, 9. Andy Uren; 1. Jake Woolmore, 2. Harry Thacker, 3. John Afoa, 4. Joe Joyce, 5. Chris Vui, 6. Steven Luatua (c), 7. Jake Heenan, 8. Nathan Hughes.

Replacements: 16. Will Capon, 17. James Lay, 18. Max Lahiff, 19. Ed Holmes, 20. Luke Hamilton, 21. Harry Randall, 22. Ioan Lloyd, 23. Alapati Leiua.

Saracens:

15. Max Malins, 14. Sean Maitland, 13. Nick Tompkins, 12. Brad Barritt (c), 11. Elliot Daly, 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Ben Spencer; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2. Jamie George, 3. Vincent Koch, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. George Kruis, 6. Nick Isiekwe, 7. Ben Earl, 8. Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: 16. Jack Singleton, 17. Rhys Carre, 18. Titi Lamositele, 19. Will Skelton, 20. Jackson Wray, 21. Richard Wigglesworth, 22. Duncan Taylor, 23. Alex Lewington.

Saturday, April 13th 2019 | Bristol Bears 23-21 Saracens | Gallagher Premiership

For the second time in five weeks, Ian Madigan held his nerve in stoppage time to steer Bristol Bears to memorable and dramatic victory, this time over reigning champions Saracens at Ashton Gate.

The Irishman stepped up to land an 80^th-minute penalty as Pat Lam’s men withstood the onslaught from a star-studded Saracens bench to clinch a sensational win.

Tom Whitely’s try had given Saracens a one-point lead at the interval, before tries from Steven Luatua and Dan Thomas, either side of Marcelo Bosch’s score, fired Bristol into a 20-14 lead midway through the second-half.

Harry Thacker was sent to the sin-bin and replacement Ralph Adams-Hale crashed over 11 minutes from time to edge Saracens back in front in the closing stages.

But it was left to the trusty boot and composure of Madigan, to fire over the decisive penalty and send Ashton Gate into raptures.

Read the full report here.

Pat Lam expects a huge challenge when Bristol Bears visit the Premiership champions Saracens on Saturday in round six of the competition.

The Director of Rugby previewed the Allianz Park clash with gathered media as his team look to extend a seven game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Subscribe to Bristol Bears TV by clicking here.

Saracens have won their last four Gallagher Premiership Rugby matches since their opening weekend home reversal to Northampton.

This was Saracens first home defeat in the tournament since Leicester visited Allianz Park in February 2018.

Bristol Bears are unbeaten in their last seven first team matches since their 17-22 loss at Harlequins in round two of Gallagher Premiership Rugby.

Bristol have won their last three away games, at Exeter in Premiership Rugby and on trips to France to face Brive and Stade Francais.

Bristol’s 23-21 victory against Saracens at Ashton Gate in round 19 last season ended a seven-game losing run to the Londoners in all competitions stretching back to 2008.

Bristol’s most recent victory on Saracens soil was 19-13 at Vicarage Road in Premiership Rugby in February 2006.

Bristol Bears: WWW
Saracens: WLW

Chris Vui vs George Kruis

Samoa star, Chris Vui is a key cog in the Bristol Bears machine, as one the league's leading lineout operators and a classy all-round operator in open play.

Vui goes head to head with England lock, George Kruis at Allianz Park on Saturday.

Luke Morahan vs Sean Maitland

This is a real battle of world class operators on the wing, as Luke Morahan takes on Scotland and British & Irish Lions star, Sean Maitland.

Morahan has picked up where he left off last season, scoring on the opening day against Bath and dominating the Challenge Cup scene.  

• Bristol Bears are unbeaten in their last seven first team matches since their 17-22 loss at Harlequins in round two of Gallagher Premiership Rugby
• Bristol’s haven't won on Saracens soil since February 2006 - a 19-13 victory at Vicarage Road 
• Sam Bedlow set for first Gallagher Premiership start of the season