Leicester Tigers will return to Mattioli Woods Welford Road this Saturday to take on the most successful team in Women's Premiership history, having triumphed in three of the five seasons that have been played and reaching the play-offs in every single one.
Although Gloucester-Hartpury may reign supreme as Champions following their 2022/23 triumph, to many punters Saracens remain the measuring stick for those entering the elite league in women's rugby.
'We believe they are the litmus test for teams to be measured against and a side that have defined success at this level for some time now' said Head of Women's Rugby Vicky Macqueen, in conversation earlier this week.
'The Women In Black' have won their last 15 successive regular season matches in the Premiership, the longest such streak of any side in the division. They have been dominant, winning all of their last six matches by margins exceeding ten points.
World Rugby's XVs 2023 Player of the Year Marlie Packer will start the match on the bench, as fierce a competitor and powerful a force a 'bomb squad' could ask for. However, her exclusion from the starting XV doesnt mean Saracens don't have an expansive array of threats across the field.
This firepower includes the likes of Sophie de Goede, who captained Canada to the semi-finals of the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup at just 23 years old. The versatile back-row is a true all rounder, with incredible power and pace coupled with exceptional skills around the park and even a deadly boot when called upon, kicking four conversions in Saracens' opening three matches.
In the backs, prodigiously talented, recently crowned RPA Under-23 player of the month, Amelia MacDougall is set to start at fly half, while at full back, Red Roses flyer Jess Breach will also start the match.
Breach is a lethal finisher from anywhere on the field, helping Harlequins to the Premier 15s title in 2020/21, while her England career reads, 25 tests played, 29 tries scored. Since making the switch to the other side of London last year, Breach has scored 15 tries for Saracens, including twice in her opening three games.
That's not to say Tigers don't offer threats of their own and the statistics back this up.
One prospect sure to intrigue Tigers fans is the announcement of prop Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele being set to start the match at blindside flanker. Keia Mae has been a destructive force thus far this season, leading the entire league for dominant tackles made with six in her opening matches, while her 'tackle breaks per 80 minutes' land her third in the team, only behind backs Tess Feury and Meg Jones. The Tigers Family will be intruiged to see what she can do when unleashed a more free back-row role.
The name in joint-second is on the opposite end of the spectrum to the powerful prop, in wing Francesca McGhie. The Scotland flyer has five dominant tackles thus far this season alongside 220 metres made and six defenders beaten, ranking third in the team for both categories behind only Feury and Jones amongst Tigers players.
Meg Jones, meanwhile, offers immense threat across the park; her 21 defenders beaten rank her second in the entire league, while her astonishing 58% tackle evasion ranks highest of all players in Allianz PWR. Tigers will need the Team GB 7s co-captain at her electric best on Saturday to lead the charge against the three time Premiership champions.
Tickets are also now on sale for our Round 5 Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby match, at home to Saracens.
This match will take place at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, on Saturday, December 16 (kick-off: 3pm).
Come down and lend your support!
With tickets from just £12 for Adults and £5 for Juniors, it's great value to be part of our first ever season at the elite level of women's rugby.
