Preview: Saracens v Western Province

The freedom to entertain. That is what awaits Currie Cup champions Western Province when they take on English Premiership runners-up Saracens at Allianz Park in London on Sunday.

This historic trip, the first time WP will play on a synthetic surface, will allow the fleet-footed backs the opportunity to display their obvious talents.

However, there is also a more serious side to the trip.

Province coach Allister Coetzee said the purpose of this tour it two-fold.

"Firstly, it is great to give youngsters an opportunity to tour and expose them [to a higher level of competition] with a view to Super Rugby next year," Coetzee said.

"Also, it will be a good opportunity to expose our new recruits – Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch and Wilco Louw – to the team environment at WP," he added.

"The new guys have settled in well," he added, "they're all intelligent rugby players and I am pleased with how quickly they've settled in.

"Team culture was a big thing for us during the Currie Cup and it's something I would like to see the guys build on even more this trip – especially as we'll be away from home and with those new faces in the team.

"I think it's fair to say that we had an enjoyable Currie Cup campaign," he said of their victorious charge towards the golden trophy that is the pinnacle of the domestic game in South Africa.

"The players enjoyed themselves on and off the field and were able to express themselves on the field, even in the play-offs. I'd like to see more of the same this weekend in what will be a new experience for many of the players."

While Province will have the desire to play an expansive game, the cold and wet conditions may put some restrictions on their plans.

However, on the flipside, the artificial surface lends itself to playing a ball-in-hand game.

The other big issue for the visitors is how they will cope with the vastly differing interpretations of the breakdown laws, with English referee Andrew Small in charge.

Saracens also have a strong South African flavour to them – including former WP captain Neil de Kock, discarded England lock Mouritz Botha, Petrus du Plessis, Alistair Hargreaves (who now captains Sarries) and Ernst Joubert.

"Saracens are a top-notch club and have big names on their playing roster," Coetzee said.

"Although a few of those bigger names are on international duty this week, they have still announced a powerful squad for Sunday – a team with a strong South African flavour and well led by [Springbok] Alistair Hargreaves."

Saracens lost in the Final of the English Premiership and the European Cup last season and are currently in second position on the Premiership log – after six rounds of action in the 2014/15 season.

The Saracens starting XV contains 10 internationals – with Kelly Brown, Mouritz Botha, Juan Figallo, Rhys Gill, Charlie Hodgson in the team – with Neil de Kock also facing his former province. United States Eagle Chris Wyles also returns after facing New Zealand in Chicago last weekend.

"We're all very excited and looking forward to Sunday," added Coetzee. "Saracens are a well structured team with a strong kicking game.

"I'm expecting a big set-piece battle and it will also be interesting to see how the players adapt to the local law interpretations, with northern hemisphere referees allowing more of a contest on the ground.

"We certainly won't change much from the Currie Cup, but, of course, there is also the small matter of playing on an artificial surface at Allianz Park, which is a faster track than normal and won't be affected by the potentially inclement weather this weekend."

* Meanwhile one lucky supporter at the Saracens versus Western Province match on Sunday will get the chance to win ZAR1-million.

Chosen at random from the crowd at Allianz Park the member of the public will punt a rugby ball from a distance of 30 metres – if the ball hits the crossbar, they will win the cash prize.

Teams:

Saracens: 15 Ben Ransom, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Tim Streather, 12 Chris Wyles, 11 David Strettle, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Kelly Brown, 6 Jackson Wray, 5 Alistair Hargreaves (captain), 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Jamie George, 1 Rhys Gill.

Replacements: 16 Brett Sharman, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Petrus Du Plessis, 19 Hayden Smith, 20 Will Fraser, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Nils Mordt, 23 Duncan Taylor.

Western Province: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Pat Howard, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Alistair Vermaak.

Replacements – from: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Oliver Kebble, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Gerbrandt Grobler, 20 Jurie van Vuuren, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Michael van der Spuy, 24 EW Viljoen.

Date: Sunday, November 9

Venue: Allianz Park, North London

Kick-off: 13.00 (13.00 GMT; 15.00 SA time)

Referee: Andrew Small (England)

Assistant referees: Andy Watson (England), Simon Mcconnell (England)

TMO: David Sainsbury (England)

@rugby365com

Saracens' South African trio Ernst Joubert, Mouritz Botha and Neil De Kock look forward to Sunday's clash against Western Province!