Saracens vs Bulls Prediction: Bulls can stun Sarries at StoneX

Three-time winners Saracens will begin their European Champions Cup campaign on Saturday evening as they host the Bulls at StoneX Stadium (5.30pm, Premier Sports 2).

Alex Jack provides his best bets for Saracens vs Bulls as well as all the important team news and match odds.

Team News

Starting with the hosts, Maro Itoje returns after the Autumn Nations Series with England to skipper Saracens this weekend.

Itoje and Nick Isiekwe form a new second-row from the starting side that lost to Newcastle Falcons last week, while there are two changes in the front-row with Jamie George and Marco Riccioni returning.

Theo McFarland, Juan Martin Gonzalez and Tom Willis form the back-row, while Ivan Van Zyl and Fergus Burke are retained in the half-backs.

There’s just the one change in the backline, with Lucio Cinti joining Nick Tompkins in the centres.

The back-three is unchanged from Kingston Park, with Rotimi Segun, Tobias Elliot and Elliot Daly retained.

As for the visitors, Johan Grobbelaar will skipper the side from hooker, in a front-row that also includes props Gerhard Steenkamp and Francois Klopper.

Two giants stand in the second-row in the form of Ruan Vermaak and JF Van Heerden, while the back-row consists of Marco van Straden, Cobus Wiese and Cameron Hanekom.

In the backline, Embrose Papier and Johan Goosen link up in the half-backs, while David Kriel and Canan Moodie form the centres.

There’s a good blend of youth and experience in the back-three, with wingers Devon Williams and Sebastian de Klerk supported by veteran Springboks star Wille le Roux at full-back.

Match odds, Saracens vs Bulls

Saracens are the favourites at 4/9 to claim the win in their opening game of the Champions Cup, while the Bulls are 15/8 for the victory.

A draw at StoneX Stadium is available at 20/1, while the Bulls with a +3 handicap are currently 11/10.

Bulls to win @ 15/8

While Saracens do welcome back some big names for Saturday’s game with the Bulls, many first-team players did feature in that shock 17-12 defeat at Newcastle last time out.

Sarries have not been invincible at StoneX recently either, with defeats to Sale Sharks and Leicester Tigers coming at the ground in their last four Premiership games.

The Bulls, who welcome back their South Africa internationals this weekend have enjoyed an impressive start to their United Rugby Championship campaign after losing to Glasgow Warriors in last season’s Grand Final.

Winning five of their first six games of the campaign, with Bulls currently occupy third place in the standings.

The wet and windy conditions in London this weekend could be a leveller and it will be a case of which pack can dominate and which half-backs can get their side playing in the right areas of the field.

With a huge set of forwards and the experienced former Springbok Goosen in the No.10 jersey, the Bulls look to be good value to cause an upset against Sarries this weekend.

Rugby Union Betting Tips from Betfred Insights.