TEAM NEWS | RC Toulon v Saracens Men

Max Malins is delighted to be bringing up a landmark as he prepares to make his 50th appearance for the club in the huge European Rugby Challenge Cup semi-final against Toulon.

Sarries head to the Stade Felix-Mayol on Saturday evening with the aim of making it through to their first ever Challenge Cup Final, which would take place in Marseille on Friday 27th May. 

Director of Rugby Mark McCall has made three changes to the starting line-up from the side that beat Gloucester last Friday in the Quarter Final, with three England Internationals returning for the trip to the South of France.

Mako Vunipola has recovered from an ankle injury and starts at loosehead, alongside the in-form pair Jamie George and Vincent Koch.

Maro Itoje and Nick Isiekwe will operate in the second-row, with an unchanged back-row of Theo McFarland, Ben Earl and Billy Vunipola. 

Aled Davies and captain Owen Farrell will be the half-backs after a strong display at Kingsholm, and the centre pairing of Nick Tompkins and Elliot Daly also remains the same.

Rotimi Según will be on the left wing, with Malins on the right for his 50th game and Alex Goode keeps his place at full-back. 

On the bench Eroni Mawi will add his immense power when called upon, whilst both Duncan Taylor and Alex Lozowski will give the back-line plenty of flexibility in the latter stages.

Malins is eyeing up a successful end to the campaign as he looks to build on his half-century for the North Londoners. 

“I’m delighted to be making my 50th appearance for this amazing club, and look forward to us finishing the season strongly!”

Saracens Men team to play Toulon:

1 Mako Vunipola

2 Jamie George

3 Vincent Koch 

4 Maro Itoje

5 Nick Isiekwe

6 Theo McFarland

7 Ben Earl

8 Billy Vunipola

9 Aled Davies

10 Owen Farrell (c)

11 Rotimi Según 

12 Nick Tompkins 

13 Elliot Daly

14 Max Malins 

15 Alex Goode

Replacements: 

16 Kapeli Pifeleti 

17 Eroni Mawi

18 Sam Wainwright

19 Callum Hunter-Hill

20 Andy Christie

21 Ivan van Zyl

22 Duncan Taylor 

23 Alex Lozowski