The USA hosts the Aviva Premiership Saturday, and it's been a long week of learning a little about the USA, and getting down to business for the two teams involved.

Former USA captain (both 15s and 7s) Chris Wyles will start on the wing for Saracens and told his teammates that he actually grew up only a few miles from Philadelphia. It was something of a homecoming for him, and Wyles will look to have as good an evening as he did the last time he was in North America.


This will be the 230th appearance for Saracens by Wyles, and that's 2nd only to fullback Alex Goode in this weekend's lineup. Billy Vunipola will play for Saracens for the first time this season, and the Saracens British & Irish Lions, who were held out in the early going to get some rest, will all run on in the starting 15. Brad Barritt will captain the Sarries side. No Titi Lamositele yet as he is still recovering from injury. FloRugby's one-time color analyst Jamie George starts at hooker.

Saracens Lineup to face Newcastle:

15 Alex Goode
14 Liam Williams
13 Marcelo Bosch
12 Brad Barritt (c)
11 Chris Wyles
10 Owen Farrell
9 Ben Spencer
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Jamie George
3 Juan Figallo
4 Nick Isiekwe
5 Maro Itoje
6 Michael Rhodes
7 Schalk Burger
8 Billy Vunipola

Reserves: 16 Christopher Tolofua; 17 Hayden Thompson-Stringer; 18 Kieran Longbottom; 19 Dominic Day; 20 Jackson Wray; 21 Richard Wigglesworth; 22 Nick Tompkins; 23 Sean Maitland

Newcastle Falcons is happy to have back last season's leading try-scorer, Vereniki Goneva. Sean Robinson replaces Will Witty and Nili Latu comes in for Callum Chick in this group.

"We were already a close squad but living in each other's pockets for the full week does get you closer, and we've been looked after brilliantly," Head Coach Dave Walder told Premiership Rugby. "The game on Saturday is obviously the big focus but it has been an old-fashioned tour in the sense that the guys have enjoyed themselves, taken in some new experiences and just enjoyed being out here. We've been training at the University of Pennsylvania and the facilities have been great, so there can certainly be no excuses from that point of view. We're here to win a big Aviva Premiership game and we believe we can achieve that."

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Falcons players have enjoyed a full week training in Philadelphia, and Harrison Orr said he has been blown away by the support and enthusiasm for the game.

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No Nick Civeta for Newcastle, which is a shame for USA fans. Civetta, for his part, won't be surprised not to be in the lineup and said earlier he never expected to be picked simply because the game is in the USA.

Newcastle Falcons team to face Saracens

15 Simon Hammersley
14 Alex Tait
13 Chris Harris
12 Josh Matavesi
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Joel Hodgson
9 Sonatane Takulua
1 Rob Vickers
2 Scott Lawson
3 Jon Welsh
4 Calum Green
5 Sean Robinson
6 Mark Wilson
7 Will Welch (captain)
8 Nili Latu

Reserves: 16 Santiago Socino; 17 Sami Mavinga; 18 Trevor Davison; 19 Will Witty; 20 Ally Hogg; 21 Sam Stuart; 22 Juan Pablo Socino ;23 Sinoti Sinoti

"The fans can expect a running style of rugby, quite colourful and us to go for it from everywhere," said Orr.

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