Aviva Premiership team news, statistics, kick-off times & odds for the weekend's action
We bring you all the Aviva Premiership team news and statistics ahead of the weekend's action as well as the kick-off times, TV details and Sky Bet odds.
Leicester v Gloucester
- Date: Saturday September 16
- Kick-off time: 1500 BST
- TV Channel: BT Sport 1
- Venue: Welford Road
- Sky Bet odds: Leicester 1/4, Gloucester 11/4
England wing Jonny May lines up for Leicester against the club he left earlier this summer, while flanker Mike Williams makes a first start of the season. Tigers academy lock Joe Maksymiw makes a Premiership debut, partnering Harry Wells in the second row, with Graham Kitchener and Dom Barrow both sidelined.
Former Leicester forward Ed Slater, who moved to Gloucester as part of a deal that took May in the opposite direction, faces the Tigers. His inclusion is among six Gloucester changes following last weekend's defeat against Harlequins, with wing Charlie Sharples, centre Billy Twelvetrees, prop John Afoa, hooker Motu Matu'u and flanker Jacob Rowan also featuring.
Last season: Leicester 34 Gloucester 9, Gloucester 31 Leicester 38
Last six league matches: Leicester L W W W L L; Gloucester L W L L W L
Top try-scorers: Jonny May (Leicester) 3; Jeremy Thrush (Gloucester) 2
Top points-scorers: Jonny May (Leicester) 15; Billy Burns (Gloucester) 11
Newcastle v Saracens
- Date: Saturday September 16
- Kick-off time: 2200 BST
- TV Channel: BT Sport 1
- Venue: Talen Energy Stadium, Philadelphia
- Sky Bet odds: Newcastle 7/1, Saracens 1/16
Newcastle show three changes from the side that edged past Sale Sharks last week for their clash against Saracens in Philadelphia. Wing Vereniki Goneva is handed a start, while there are also opportunities for lock Sean Robinson and back-row forward Nili Latu.
England number eight Billy Vunipola will make his first appearance for four months after recovering from a shoulder injury that ruled him out of this summer's British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand. Elsewhere, Saracens boss Mark McCall hands first starts of the season to Lions players Liam Williams, Owen Farrell, Mako Vunipola and Jamie George.
Last season: Newcastle 27 Saracens 35, Saracens 21 Newcastle 6
Last six league matches: Newcastle W L W W W W; Saracens W W W L W L
Top try-scorers: Kyle Cooper, Juan Pablo Socino, Alex Tait & Rob Vickers (Newcastle) 1; Sean Maitland (Saracens) 3
Top points-scorers: Sonatane Takulua (Newcastle) 21; Owen Farrell (Saracens) 20
Wasps v Harlequins
- Date: Sunday September 17
- Kick-off time: 1500 BST
- TV Channel: BT Sport 1
- Venue: Ricoh Arena
- Sky Bet odds: Wasps 1/6, Harlequins 7/2
Wasps boss Dai Young wants to see improved "accuracy and intensity" from his players in Sunday's Aviva Premiership clash against Harlequins.
Although Wasps won their opening two league games, collecting nine points from a possible 10, they left it late at Worcester last weekend before tries from Willie le Roux and Josh Bassett saw them home.
"We know our accuracy and intensity will need to be much better this weekend than it was last if we are to get the result we want," rugby director Young said.
"If Harlequins hit their straps, they are going to be a formidable team this season. They are packed with England internationals and have quality throughout.
"We saw how dangerous they can be during their win over Gloucester last weekend, who had beaten Exeter in the opening round of the competition. It just goes to show again that any team can beat any other in this league.
"The two clubs have had some great tussles over the years, with a number of close encounters.
"They are normally high tempo, high scoring, exciting games to watch, with both teams keen to play attacking rugby, but both sides will also want to bring intensity in defence, so it should be a really tough contest."
Wasps, unbeaten at the Ricoh Arena in their last 20 Premiership games, are bolstered by a first start of the season for British and Irish Lions back Elliot Daly, who starts in the centre, while his fellow Lion James Haskell is among the replacements.
Elsewhere, Matt Symons partners skipper Joe Launchbury in the second-row - Kearnan Myall and James Gaskell are both sidelined by injury - and centre Jimmy Gopperth (foot) and scrum-half Dan Robson (knee) are also absent.
Joe Simpson wears the number nine shirt instead of Robson, with Wasps welcoming back wing Christian Wade from injury as they look to keep an unbeaten start going.
Quins' changes see Dave Ward move to hooker, Jack Clifford starting at openside flanker and Marcus Smith taking fly-half duties from Demetri Catrakilis, who continues recovery from a small bone fracture in his throat.
Quins have not won away in the Premiership since March, but they head to Coventry on the back of a solid victory over Gloucester seven days ago.
Marcus Smith starts at fly-half for Quins, with Demetri Catrakilis recovering from a bone fracture in his throat, while Dave Ward lines up at hooker and Jack Clifford wears the number seven shirt, packing down in the back row alongside fellow England international Chris Robshaw and Mat Luamanu.
Last season: Harlequins 32 Wasps 13, Wasps 47 Harlequins 18
Last six league matches: Wasps W W L W W W; Harlequins L L W L L W
Top try-scorers: Dan Robson (Wasps) 4; Charlie Walker & Marland Yarde (Harlequins) 2
Top points-scorers: Jimmy Gopperth (Wasps) 24; Marcus Smith (Harlequins) 15
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