Saracens
LEICESTER TIGERS v SARACENS Prem Cup Preview
IMAGO/Inpho Photography
By TheSaracens.com
November 11 2026
The Prem cup is turning into something of a bright light in our season so far. 2 games, 2 wins, 22 tries, 10 points and top of the group. This Sunday sees us travel to Welford Road to take on Leicester Tigers who are faring less well in the competition. Another good win and we’ll be well on our way to securing a semi final place before we’ve even reached the half way point in the competition (part 2 takes place after Christmas)
After Venter’s comments around cohesion (we don’t have much apparently) team selection will interesting. I very much hope, at least as far as the youngsters are concerned, we stick with the same guys (with the sad exception of Jack Bracken who I fear will be absent for a while). There may be a bit of rotation in senior circles: maybe Daly for Malins, Tompkins for Va’enuku and Charlie for James but I do hope we retain the young core who competed well for the most part last week. A replacement for Jack will be interesting. Whereas we have a lot of talented wingers, Elliott and Caluori have deservedly earned a call up to the England squad, we may see Seva Kava or Zac Finch in the starting 15 alongside young Fraser Rawlins.
I was impressed with the starting front row last week especially the props so hopefully they’ll get to go again along with the young locks. We may see a tweak in the back row with maybe Isiekwe replacing Onyeama-Christie.
Let’s hope for another performance more like the first half than the second and another good win.
For those not making the trip it's on TV so sit back in your nice warm armchair with a pint of old and filthy and (hopefully) enjoy
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Discussion started by TheSaracens.com , 11/11/2026 07:23
TheSaracens.com
11/11/2026 07:23
11/11/2026 07:23
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One educated guess on the Tigers side, but no-one knows.
Haffar------Moli-------Loman
-----Thomas----T.Manz
Bekoe---Marsh---J.Manz
Allan
----Talbot
---------Woodward
-----------------------McCarthy
OHC--------------------------Wand
-----------Pearson
Bench: Southwell, Ryan, Ayiefor, Stooke, Thompson, Towsend, Myall, Crowley.
Haffar------Moli-------Loman
-----Thomas----T.Manz
Bekoe---Marsh---J.Manz
Allan
----Talbot
---------Woodward
-----------------------McCarthy
OHC--------------------------Wand
-----------Pearson
Bench: Southwell, Ryan, Ayiefor, Stooke, Thompson, Towsend, Myall, Crowley.
Anyone to look out for that we might not be family with Burnie? Pearson is the only younger one I’m aware of but he’s already had some decent first team game time.
SARACENS TEAM TO FACE LEICESTER TIGERS
Starting XV
Phil Brantingham
James Hadfield
Corné Weilbach
Nick Isiekwe
Kennedy Sylvester
Max Eke
Andy Onyeama-Christie
Nathan Michelow (C)
Charlie Bracken
Luke Davidson
Rotimi Segun
Sione Va’enuku
Angus Hall
Tobias Elliott
Max Malins
REPLACEMENTS
James Isaacs
Alex O’Driscoll
Marcus Street
Hugh Tizard
Toby Knight
Asa Stewart-Harris
Finn Keylock
Noah Caluori
Starting XV
Phil Brantingham
James Hadfield
Corné Weilbach
Nick Isiekwe
Kennedy Sylvester
Max Eke
Andy Onyeama-Christie
Nathan Michelow (C)
Charlie Bracken
Luke Davidson
Rotimi Segun
Sione Va’enuku
Angus Hall
Tobias Elliott
Max Malins
REPLACEMENTS
James Isaacs
Alex O’Driscoll
Marcus Street
Hugh Tizard
Toby Knight
Asa Stewart-Harris
Finn Keylock
Noah Caluori
15. George Pearson (17)
14. Ryan Crowley (9)
13. Joe Jenkins (0)
12. Joseph Woodward © (59)
11. Ollie Myall (1)
10. Orlando Bailey (35)
9. Ollie Allan (20)
1. Tarek Haffar (25)
2. Samiuela Moli (8)
3. Ale Loman (19)
4. Tom Manz (26)
5. Elliott Stooke (2)
6. James Thompson (21)
7. Samuel Williams (16)
8. George Marsh (4)
Replacements
16. Jack Doorey-Palmer (0)
17. Kieran Ryan (1)
18. Diamond Ayiehfor (1)
19. Osian Thomas (8)
20. Joshua Manz (24)
21. James Townsend (1)
22. Oscar Talbot (1)
23. Kesena Izu (2)
14. Ryan Crowley (9)
13. Joe Jenkins (0)
12. Joseph Woodward © (59)
11. Ollie Myall (1)
10. Orlando Bailey (35)
9. Ollie Allan (20)
1. Tarek Haffar (25)
2. Samiuela Moli (8)
3. Ale Loman (19)
4. Tom Manz (26)
5. Elliott Stooke (2)
6. James Thompson (21)
7. Samuel Williams (16)
8. George Marsh (4)
Replacements
16. Jack Doorey-Palmer (0)
17. Kieran Ryan (1)
18. Diamond Ayiehfor (1)
19. Osian Thomas (8)
20. Joshua Manz (24)
21. James Townsend (1)
22. Oscar Talbot (1)
23. Kesena Izu (2)
Good looking team. I’m seeing Clarke starting with Hadfield on the bench on instagram, hopefully that’s correct as it’d be great to have Hadfield back.
TK - blurb from the official, although that may have changed since publication -
In the forwards, Brantingham retains his place at loosehead prop, while Hadfield comes into the side at hooker. Weilbach completes the front row at tighthead.
In the forwards, Brantingham retains his place at loosehead prop, while Hadfield comes into the side at hooker. Weilbach completes the front row at tighthead.
Looks a fair bit stronger than I was expecting. Poor old Noah has gone from England hopeful to Prem Cup bench..
Quote:tpr's headmistress
TK - blurb from the official, although that may have changed since publication -
In the forwards, Brantingham retains his place at loosehead prop, while Hadfield comes into the side at hooker. Weilbach completes the front row at tighthead.
Maybe someone hasn’t received an email with the revised lineup!
Nice mix of youth and experience. Need to keep some of the "1st team" players ticking over during this period.
Pleased to see Davidson continuing at 10, Hall at 13 and Eke at 6 - all positions we need some depth in. Also nice to have Hadfield back
Pleased to see Davidson continuing at 10, Hall at 13 and Eke at 6 - all positions we need some depth in. Also nice to have Hadfield back
Quote:TommyKentishQuote:tpr's headmistress
TK - blurb from the official, although that may have changed since publication -
In the forwards, Brantingham retains his place at loosehead prop, while Hadfield comes into the side at hooker. Weilbach completes the front row at tighthead.
Maybe someone hasn’t received an email with the revised lineup!
If you mean me, then I have received an email which replicates what I saw earlier. Perhaps there'll be another, who knows, but I won't be losing any sleep over it!
Quote:tpr's headmistressQuote:TommyKentishQuote:tpr's headmistress
TK - blurb from the official, although that may have changed since publication -
In the forwards, Brantingham retains his place at loosehead prop, while Hadfield comes into the side at hooker. Weilbach completes the front row at tighthead.
Maybe someone hasn’t received an email with the revised lineup!
If you mean me, then I have received an email which replicates what I saw earlier. Perhaps there'll be another, who knows, but I won't be losing any sleep over it!
lol no sorry, I meant someone in the media team at the club! I’ve been dealing with outlook issues at work today so it was on the brain
Oh, a victim of the Microsoft problem then. Nightmare! Fortunately we're 'Googlers'.
Comfortably the worst game of rugby I’ve watched in a long time. Conditions an absolute killer.
With all the criticism of "plastic" pitches you just don't get games like this, as it is easier to keep the ball dry and plant your feet.
Why did we just kick it out at the end of the first half? This club is in a strange place.
The commentators gushing over Caluori is getting tiresome
He’s been largely very poor
He’s been largely very poor
Well done Saracens, that was a lot closer than I had feared from the ream sheets
Good performances from Christie, Hadfield and the young fly halves
Some poor stuff from the more regular players, Malins can’t be anywhere near the team when the Prem restarts
Some poor stuff from the more regular players, Malins can’t be anywhere near the team when the Prem restarts
How AOC didn't get MOTM I will never know. He looked a cut above.
Felt our scrum deserved more reward. Eke went well in the line out and Hadfield was industrious
Hall continues to mix moments of quality with sloppiness. Davidson, Sione and Tobias the pick of the backs on a tricky afternoon.
Noah's catching style does seem to cause him issues in poor weather. Any bump from an opponent and it is so easy for the ball to slip loose. Not a great day for him or Max
Felt our scrum deserved more reward. Eke went well in the line out and Hadfield was industrious
Hall continues to mix moments of quality with sloppiness. Davidson, Sione and Tobias the pick of the backs on a tricky afternoon.
Noah's catching style does seem to cause him issues in poor weather. Any bump from an opponent and it is so easy for the ball to slip loose. Not a great day for him or Max
Not counting chickens but...
Beat Quins next week and it's a home semi. Win that and it will be a final at the Stonex I believe.
Beat Quins next week and it's a home semi. Win that and it will be a final at the Stonex I believe.
Quote:Sarrov
Not counting chickens but...
Beat Quins next week and it's a home semi. Win that and it will be a final at the Stonex I believe.
Not quite yet, there’s still 4 games to play after next week
Quote:MarkCol7Quote:Sarrov
Not counting chickens but...
Beat Quins next week and it's a home semi. Win that and it will be a final at the Stonex I believe.
Not quite yet, there’s still 4 games to play after next week
Aha, thanks for pointing that small detail out!
I didn't realise it was home and away fixtures, so used to either or with Champions Cup and Nations Championship
A well earned victory in an enjoyable game.
I agree with the above re Noah: when it’s wet and slippery he should just catch it normally rather than do the basketball thing. He dropped far more than he caught today.
I thought Charlie marshalled things well. Shout outs to the backrow and Nick Isikwe who I thought played well.
Sione continues to look the business.
I agree with the above re Noah: when it’s wet and slippery he should just catch it normally rather than do the basketball thing. He dropped far more than he caught today.
I thought Charlie marshalled things well. Shout outs to the backrow and Nick Isikwe who I thought played well.
Sione continues to look the business.
Quote:Stopsy
I thought the yellow card for Malins was wrong
One of a number of things the ref got wrong, but a win in the end, as ugly as it may be is all that counts
Not a very memorable game. Tons of handling problems owing to the weather. Credit to the guys for hanging in there & finding a way. AOC outstanding.
Very poor first half from us, inexplicable not contesting lineouts in the wet. When we finally did we won it!
Very muddled decision to take a scrum 15m in front of the posts from a penalty and predictably dropping the ball 3 passes later.
AOC has been excellent these last two games (as he should be in this competition). Charlie very good again too. Tobias pretty solid all round.
Scrum OK but no more. Apparently Corne has not touched the ball in the last two games!
And we’ve finally won a game with Hamish Smailles in the officiating team, although he did manage to chalk off a try (rightly so this time)
Much more pleasing second half but Noah looked a mile from International level.
Very muddled decision to take a scrum 15m in front of the posts from a penalty and predictably dropping the ball 3 passes later.
AOC has been excellent these last two games (as he should be in this competition). Charlie very good again too. Tobias pretty solid all round.
Scrum OK but no more. Apparently Corne has not touched the ball in the last two games!
And we’ve finally won a game with Hamish Smailles in the officiating team, although he did manage to chalk off a try (rightly so this time)
Much more pleasing second half but Noah looked a mile from International level.
We made too many handling errors - Tigers were single figures. However, our penalty count was a lot lower than theirs, although we didn’t make it count, particularly in the first half. Well played lads, pulled one out of the bag there when you didn’t play at your best.
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