Saracens wobble could get worse at Leicester

Aviva Premiership
BT Sport 1, 3pm Sunday

It has already been upgraded from a blip to a wobble - the question is, if Saracens lose at Leicester will it become a full-blown crisis?

Sarries have lost seven in a row, an unthinkable sequence for such a powerhouse club. The first two defeats in that run can possibly be overlooked as they came in the Anglo-Welsh Cup, and the rescheduling of their home European clash against Clermont may have knocked them off their stride.

But their three Premiership defeats ought to be a cause for concern, especially as Saracens were leading and looking comfortable in all of them before conceding a clinching try in the last 15 minutes on every occasion.

Sarries have been pulled up in the past for doing just enough to win without pressing home their superiority, and if it is just a case of complacency it's hard to believe the players or director of rugby Mark McCall will allow it to go on.

But many of the Saracens side have been going at it at such a high level for more than two seasons now, with international and Lions commitments thrown in. Key forwards Billy Vunipola and Maro Itoje are out injured and others may just be feeling the heavy workload.

Things haven't gone swimmingly for Leicester either, as they were put in their place by Munster in Europe in the last fortnight and lost their two Premiership outings before that.

Their pack doesn't look as frightening as past incarnations but if Sarries are labouring they may hold their own and the backline is boosted again by the inclusion of Matt Toomua and Manu Tuilagi, who played all 80 minutes last week.

The England centre was tipped to mark his return with a try but couldn't get across. Nonetheless, he made some key carries and is worth chancing again.

And given it is now three league matches in a row that Sarries have thrown away a lead in the second half, the Saracens-Leicester full-time double result has to be worth a go.

Recommendations
M Tuilagi to score a try
1pt 3-1 bet365
Saracens-Leicester double result
1pt 15-2 BoyleSports, Sky Bet

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