Callum Hunter-Hill has handed Saracens a big fitness boost ahead of Sunday’s Champions Cup quarter-final clash at La Rochelle.
The Scottish lock has been sidelined since December with knee trouble, but will make a crucial return this weekend. Hunter-Hill will take a seat on the bench in France, and his presence offsets the injury loss of flanker Andy Christie.
Scotland international Christie will miss the rest of the season after suffering a broken arm in last weekend's 35-20 win over the Ospreys. Hunter-Hill's return offers more cover at lock among Saracens' replacements, which in turn allows the versatile Nick Isiekwe to start at blindside flanker.
Starting England’s Isiekwe at flanker – also highly-proficient in the second row – will further bolster Saracens' lineout against the mammoth La Rochelle pack. Sarries are back in France for their first European knockout match since the disappointing 25-16 Challenge Cup semi-final loss at Toulon in May 2022.
Rugby director Mark McCall admitted his coaching staff made a rare misstep in preparations for the Stade Mayol loss – that have not been repeated ahead of the Stade Marcel Deflandre trip.
"We got the build-up to that Toulon game wrong, and I think we realised that within minutes of being in that match," said McCall. "That was on us, it’s fair to say it was a mistake on our part – and it's not one that we'll make again.
"So this week the preparation has been very different. In some respects we've been preparing for chaos, because we know we'll have to react to different challenges through the match."
Saracens might be back in the Champions Cup knockout stages for the first time in three years after their relegation and recovery, but McCall pointed to his side's impressive consistency in reaching the tournament's business end.
The three-time winners face an intriguing contest with the current holders this weekend, with both sides confident of their silverware pedigree.
"The group of players we now have, there is a core that are still here from those prior achievements" said McCall. "This is our 10th consecutive quarter-final so there is plenty of experience amongst the squad.
"It’s dangerous to look too far into the past as this squad are trying to build their own story, but it certainly helps to be able to draw back on those kind of occasions.
"To have 43 knockout matches in 10 or 11 years when you can only get in five a year is an incredible achievement. Going to places like La Rochelle keeps you alive and excited, but we are well aware of the scale of the task.”
Saracens team to face La Rochelle: A Goode; M Malins, A Lozowski, N Tompkins, S Maitland; O Farrell (c), I Van Zyl; M Vunipola, J George, M Riccioni; M Itoje, H Tizard; N Isiekwe, B Earl, B Vunipola.
Replacements: T Woolstencroft, E Mawi, C Judge, C Hunter-Hill, J Wray, A Davies, D Taylor, A Lewington.
