Alex Goode and Jimmy Gopperth hit milestones at Allianz Park today as Wasps test their squad strength against the reigning English champions. Here's what you need to know
Saracens v Wasps live stream: How to watch from anywhere
Wasps pulled off a magnificent Gallagher Premiership win at Bath last time out, prevailing despite four first-half injuries and a 13-0 deficit. However, they will be hard-pressed to get close to Saracens this afternoon (12.30pm).
That’s because while Sarries again roll out their heavyweights in search of a fourth successive win, the visitors have rested their heroes from the Rec – irrepressible back-row Jack Willis among them. Tighthead Biyi Alo is the only Wasp required to start in consecutive matches.
“We’re going to have to be physical,” said Wasps coach Lee Blackett. “They’re one of the most physical sides in Europe and that’s why we’ve had to make some changes. We can’t have guys that are going around at 70 or 80% when we come up against the current champions.”
Jimmy Gopperth will mark his 100th Wasps appearance by captaining the side at Allianz Park, while centre Juan de Jongh makes his first appearance since the resumption following hand and hamstring injuries.
Related content: Jimmy Gopperth: the classy Kiwi at Wasps
Hooker Antonio ‘TJ’ Harris is named among the replacements, having rejoined the club on a short-term deal this week from Jersey, and there’s a likely debut in store for back-row Kieran Curran, a former Warwick School pupil. Another 20-year-old, utility back Will Simonds, is also on the bench and in line for his Premiership debut.
Milestone: Jimmy Gopperth will wear the captain’s armband on his 100th Wasps appearance (Getty)
After losing to a late score at Bristol, Saracens have cranked up through the gears as they prepare for their Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final at Leinster on 19 September.
Their relegation was confirmed in January when they were issued with a second points deduction of 70 for salary cap breaches. But it’s interesting to note that had only the original 35-point penalty applied, this would probably have been the weekend when they finally hauled themselves off the foot of the table.
They will be led out, presumably, by Alex Goode, who becomes the fourth player in Saracens’ history to reach 300 appearances for the club. The full-back, deprived of the cap-laden Test career that he richly deserved, made his Sarries debut in 2008 and has helped Mark McCall’s side win eight major trophies.
DID YOU KNOW? Saracens (nine) and Wasps (seven) have scored more tries directly from a maul than any other side in the Premiership this season
Owen Farrell, the England captain and fly-half, returns to the starting XV and the only other change from Monday’s 40-12 defeat of London Irish sees Tim Swinson slot into the second row alongside Maro Itoje.
Saracens are protecting a ten-match winning run at Alliance Park. Should they require any extra motivation they have it in spades because in the reverse fixture last February, Wasps hammered them 60-10 at the Ricoh. Zach Kibirige and Brad Shields each crossed twice to help give Blackett a flying start to life as head coach following Dai Young’s departure.
You can watch highlights of that match here.
Saracens: Alex Goode; Alex Lewington, Elliot Daly, Brad Barritt, Sean Maitland; Owen Farrell, Aled Davies; Richard Barrington, Jamie George, Vincent Koch, Maro Itoje, Tim Swinson, Mike Rhodes, Jackson Wray, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Kapeli Pifeleti, 17 Sam Crean, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Callum Hunter-Hill, 20 Sean Reffell, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Dom Morris, 23 Elliott Obatoyinbo.
Wasps: Rob Miller; Paolo Odogwu, Juan de Jongh, Michael Le Bourgeois, Josh Bassett; Jimmy Gopperth (capt), Ben Vellacott; Ben Harris, Tom Cruse, Biyi Alo, Will Rowlands, Tim Cardall, Tom Willis, Ben Morris, Sione Vailanu.
Replacements: 16 Antonio ‘TJ’ Harris, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Jack Owlett, 19 Theo Vukasinovic, 20 Kieran Curran, 21 Sam Wolstenholme, 22 Charlie Atkinson, 23 Will Simonds.
Here’s how to find a reliable live stream for Saracens v Wasps wherever you are.
How to watch Saracens v Wasps from outside your country
If you’re abroad, but still want to watch your local Premiership coverage, like Saracens v Wasps today, you can do so by using a VPN – Virtual Private Network.
VPNs allow you to get around any geo-blocking by changing your IP address so you appear in a different location and can watch the same legal Premiership live stream you would at home.
Our friends at TechRadar have tested hundreds of VPN and recommend ExpressVPN, which is easy to use, has strong security features and allows you to watch on several devices at once, including smart TVs and phones, iPads, tablets, PCs and Macs.
Plus, ExpressVPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can try it out for a month for free or sign up for an annual plan and get three months free.
Saracens v Wasps live stream: How to watch from the UK
Saracens v Wasps, which kicks off at 12.30pm today, will be shown live on BT Sport Extra 1/App in the UK. If you don’t have a BT contract but want to watch the match, don’t worry because you can still easily watch it online.
That’s because BT Sport has a contract-free monthly pass that allows you to get instant access to all four of their sport channels for just £25.
That’s great value given they are showing every Premiership match played behind closed doors live and will also cover the European Champions and Challenge Cup knockout stages in September and October. Plus, you can cancel at any time because there’s no contract.
Clubs are also working with BT Sport to allow season ticket-holders free access to home games on the channel’s app.
If you’re from the UK but are overseas when Saracens v Wasps takes place, you can get your normal live stream but you’ll need a VPN – see the information above.
Saracens v Wasps live stream: How to watch from the USA
If you live in the States, the official broadcaster of Premiership matches is NBC, with matches streamed on NBC Sports Gold so you can watch them anytime and anywhere.
Saracens v Wasps will kick off at 7.30am EST and 4.30am on the West Coast.
The NBC Sports Gold Pass for rugby is $79.99 and includes coverage of the Gallagher Premiership, European Champions and Challenge Cups, and Guinness Six Nations.
Saracens v Wasps live stream: How to watch from New Zealand
It’s little wonder that Sky Sport NZ, with ten sports channels, including one dedicated to rugby, is the rights holder for Premiership matches in New Zealand.
If you want to tune in to Saracens v Wasps from the Land of the Long White Cloud, the match kicks off at 11.30pm on Sky Sport 1.
It costs $31.99 a month to add Sky Sport to your Sky Starter pack ($25.99), but if you sign up for 12 months before 30 September 2020 you’ll get your first month free. Plus, you’ll get Sky Go, which allows you to watch live rugby wherever you are.
Saracens v Wasps live stream: How to watch from Australia
For those in Australia, Fox Sports have the rights to show Premiership matches and you can watch Saracens v Wasps at 9.30pm (AEST).
The Foxtel Sports HD bundle is $74 a month – and you get 50+ other channels as well as Foxtel GO, so you can watch when on the move.
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Bring back the fans: Saracens win a lineout against London Irish on Monday at the Stoop (Getty Images)
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