Saturday, February 23
Gloucester (1) v Newcastle (9)
Gloucester stand-off Ryan Lamb returns after shoulder trouble and lock Alex Brown is back after breaking a bone in his forearm - he partners Will James in a team which shows eight changes from the one that lost to Bristol. Nick Wood is the only remaining member of the front row. Andy Titterrell replaces hooker Jeremy Paul and Jack Forster comes in for Carlos Nieto. Peter Buxton comes in on the blindside flank, with Luke Narraway moving to number eight with Gareth Delve on international duty. Andy Hazell wears seven.
Alex Tait gets a league debut as one of six changes from the Newcastle side which beat Saracens, joining a back line which, with Jonny Wilkinson, Toby Flood and Jamie Noon with England, includes centre Tom Dillon and stand-off Steve Jones. Second row Mark Sorenson returns in the pack, while fellow Kiwi Joe McDonnell packs down at loosehead prop in place of Jon Golding. Matt Thompson replaces Andy Long at hooker.
Last season: Newcastle 19 Gloucester 12, Gloucester 24 Newcastle 18
Last six league matches: Gloucester W W L W L L; Newcastle L L W W L W
Top tryscorers: Lesley Vainikolo (Gloucester) 7; Tom May (Newcastle) 4
Top pointscorers: Ryan Lamb (Gloucester) 179; Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle) 191
Leicester (2) v Sale (5)
England centre Dan Hipkiss starts for Leicester after recovering from a groin strain. Ayoola Erinle moves to the wing, Sam Vesty and Ollie Smith complete the back three, Aaron Mauger partners Hipkiss and Frank Murphy and Andy Goode are named at half- back.
Captain Martin Corry switches to the second row alongside Louis Deacon. With Martin Castrogiovanni on Italy duty Alex Moreno comes in at tight-head prop and Ben Herring and Marcos Ayerza are also included in the starting XV. Sale are without Richard Wigglesworth, England's new first-choice scrum-half. Sililo Martens is at number nine and the side are captained by lock Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe.
Last season: Sale 25 Leicester 26, Leicester 35 Sale 23
Last six league matches: Leicester L W W W W L; Sale W W W L W W
Top tryscorers: Tom Varndell (Leicester) 6; Ben Foden, Oriol Ripol & Lee Thomas (Sale) 4
Top pointscorers: Andy Goode (Leicester) 195; Charlie Hodgson (Sale) 175
Wasps (7) v Bristol (10)
Wasps make six changes because of international call-ups. In the pack Nick Adams, Dan Leo and Lawrence Dallaglio return in the absence of Phil Vickery, Simon Shaw and James Haskell. Behind the scrum Simon Amor wins his first competitive start of the season at scrum-half with Eoin Reddan and Mark McMillan elsewhere,
although McMillan will return to be on the bench as Joe Simpson is away with England Under-20s. Dave Walder takes over from Danny Cipriani at stand-off and Mark Van Gisbergen is on the right wing.
For Bristol England sevens star Anthony Elliott comes in for the injured Lee Robinson on the wing, Ed Barnes makes his Premiership starting debut and takes over the stand-off position from Jason Strange, prop Alex Clarke comes in for Jason Hobson with Darren Crompton reverting to tighthead and Alfie Tooala replaces Andrew Blowers at number eight.
Last season: Wasps 28 Bristol 0, Bristol 26 Wasps 21
Last six league matches: Wasps W D W W L W; Bristol L D L W L W
Top tryscorers: Daniel Cipriani, Paul Sackey (Wasps) 4; Tom Arscott (Bristol) 5
Top pointscorers: Daniel Cipriani (Wasps) 202; Jason Strange (Bristol) 99
Sunday, February 24
Leeds Carnegie (12) v Bath (3)
Kearnan Myall makes his first start for Leeds after four months out with a shoulder injury, while Rob Rawlinson and Hendre Fourie are on the bench after lengthy lay-offs. Captain Stuart Hooper is in the squad after shoulder trouble and scrum-half Joe Bedford, the acting captain, is clear to play after a head injury. Colin Noon (neck), Adam Hopcroft (back), Michael Cusack (thumb), Adam Balding (back), Richard Welding (shoulder), Lee Blackett (hip) and Tom Biggs (hip) are all ruled out.For Bath prop Duncan Bell completes his comeback from injury to start in the front row with David Barnes and Pieter Dixon - but Matt Stevens, Steve Borthwick, ee Mears and Michael Lipman are with England. Michael Claassens and Olly Barkley form the half-back pairing with Joe Maddock and Matt Banahan on the wings and Nick Abendanon at full-back.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last six league matches: Leeds Carnegie L L L L L L; Bath W W L W L L
Top tryscorers: Tom Biggs (Leeds Carnegie) 5; Matthew Banahan (Bath) 6
Top pointscorers: Alberto Di Bernardo (Leeds Carnegie) 141; Olly Barkley (Bath) 134
Saracens (4) v Harlequins (6)
Saracens welcome back Richard Hill and Brent Russell. Hill was rested at Newcastle last week, while full-back Russell has shaken off a thigh injury. Adam Powell comes in for the injured Andy Farrell, Kris Chesney and Nick Lloyd return to the starting line-up and lock Tom Ryder is given an opportunity to start ahead of Hugh Vyvyan, who is rested following the birth of his daughter earlier this week.
Nick Easter is on international duty with England, so Tom Guest takes over at number eight for Harlequins after recovering from his injury playing for England Saxons on February 9. The call-up of prop Mike Ross onto the Ireland A bench against Scotland A might result in a late change to the starting line-up. Axed England scrum-half Andy Gomarsall has again failed to oust Danny Care.
Last season: Saracens 33 Harlequins 19, Harlequins 16 Saracens 20
Last six league matches: Saracens W L L W W L; Harlequins L L W L L W
Top tryscorers: Richard Haughton & Adam Powell (Saracens) 4; Simon Keogh & Steve So'oialo (Harlequins) 4
Top pointscorers: Glen Jackson (Saracens) 210; Chris Malone (Harlequins) 114
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