Billy Is Back For Saracens While Varndell Comes To Leicester apos;s Rescue

Happy New Year and all that.
Shall we crack on? You probably don't need us to mention it — we're going to anyway, try and stop us — but 2019 is no small year for rugby.
So you better get yourself ahead of the curve and up to date so that come September you can turn to friends and family watching live pictures from the World Cup in and say 'I'm really enjoying these scrums!' or 'how about that knock-on!?' and other pithy rugby-related comments.
Failing that, you might just want to catch up with what's been going on while you've been solely committed to the food and booze over and the New Year, so here comes Scrum's the Word, back, back, back, to peer into the looking-glass once more.

Guides, statistics and bits and pieces from around the grounds - we bring your weekly fix of fun and frolics intertwined with a splash of forceful opinion every Friday.

Join in kids.
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  NEWS FROM ROUND THE GROUNDS
BILLY'S BACK
Brilliant to see big Billy Vunipola back and starting for Saracens against Sale on Friday night.
Three broken arms in 18 months, a missed Lions tour before that with shoulder trouble, and a dodgy knee before that, the poor bloke has hardly had a proper run since 2016.
It's brilliant to see big Billy Vunipola back and starting for Saracens against Sale on Friday night
In fact, since playing a peak of 16 Premiership games in 2014-15 he managed 10 in 2015-16, 13 in 2016-17, then six last year and four this so far.
In the last two calendar years Vunipola has played just 21 club games (16 in the league and five in Europe) and four Tests for England.
It would be desperately sad if 2019 followed in that vein for him.

The man himself has spoken of the mental torment, frustration and anger that comes with such a shocking period of pain.
So here's to a clean bill of health for the big man. Club, and more importantly this year, country needs him.
  IT'S TOM VAN-DELL!
If you see a big van whizzing round the East Midlands with French number-plates on this January, it's likely to be the Premiership's record try-scorer at the wheel.



Tom Varndell, the 32-year-old winger, is back in the league having signed for Leicester on an emergency loan deal.
The Tigers are without the injured Mat Tait, Adam Thompstone and Telusa Veainu, so have snapped up Varndell - who last played for Leicester back in 2009 - until the end of the season.
The speedster didn't enjoy his brief spell at French second division side Soyaux Angouleme, so quit his contract to come home.
Tom Varndell is back in the league having signed for Leicester on an emergency loan deal
But now it means a few road trips.
'The timing hasn't been ideal with Christmas and New Year, but Geordie (Murphy) has been very understanding and the club have been very supportive,' Vardnell told Scrum's the Word.
'They have allowed me the time to get my furniture.

I have got some big road trips across Europe to do to get it back!
'It is all good, as long as I can get my training in, my fitness up and get back to where I need to be then it'll be fine.
'I am not registered for Europe, so there will be a period where I can get away.

That's when I have to do this move, get the family back up here and get the house set up again.
'I drove a van down there to put my stuff in the place in France, so I have done it already! It takes about 12 hours. I drive down to Calais, then keep going.
'I might fly to Limoges then drive to Angouleme to my place, then rent a lorry over there.

It is not horrendous!'
Eight more tries and he's the first to score 100 tries in the league, so if you see him, give him a toot.
  NORTH THE MORPH
Social media was ablaze on New Year's Eve, with rugby fans who were watching The Graham Norton Show (yes, there is a middle to that venn-diagram) confused as to why Wales wing George North was on the couch sat between Keira Knightley and Olivia Coleman.
Turns out it was X-Men and Mad Max actor Nicholas Hoult - but we reckon if North slimmed down a wee bit he could've subbed in.
The man himself found it funny, tweeting when a fan asked if he'd lost weight 'I'm glad someone noticed.

New year, new me and all that'.
Now this has us thinking, which actors could do a shift on the rugby field… Idriss Elba's Luther could make a mean blind-side flanker, right? Combine him with a fired-up Tom Hardy at openside, and that's quite a pair.
Happy new year everyone!

Hope you all have a banging 2019 👊🏼 just to clarify that wasn't me on the Graham Norton show. And you always need a rock at tight-head, so Dwayne Johnson can play there (he's in everything else, so might as well).

Maybe put him next to the massive Icelandic Game of Thrones 'Mountain' Hafthor Julius Bjornsson for a tasty pair of props.
Then let's have that Aquaman bloke Jason Momoa at lock with Liam Neeson (in Taken mode) as they're large men.
Chris Hemsworth - that Thor one - he can play No 8 because he's basically Duane Vermuelen already.
Danny Devito at hooker anyone?
So that's your forwards - send in your backs, why don't you?
  EDDIE'S WORLD CUP WATCH
Eddie Jones is not at any matches this weekend - but his assistants Steve Borthwick and Neal Hatley are both at Sale v Saracens on Friday night, with a large helping of Vunipola on the menu.
  NEW YEAR, SAME SNUBS
We at Sportsmail revealed this week that around 45 players were summoned by Eddie Jones to England mini-camps over the New Year period.
There was no training, but they completed a few medical tests to see how everyone was shaping up for the Six Nations.
There were two camps - one on New Year's Eve (a nightmare for those who fancied a crafty few beers) for players at London and South West Premiership clubs at Bisham Abbey, and another on January 2 in Liverpool for the Midlands and Northern lot.
Around 45 players were summoned to England mini-camps but Alex Lozowski was snubbed
The usual suspects attended - plus a few fringe names.

We told you that Danny Cipriani, Ollie Thorley, Nick Schonert, Dan Robson, Zach Mercer and Ellis Genge all went, as did Ben Earl.
Interestingly Alex Lozowski was snubbed.
We have learnt that Ollie Devoto also travelled up and that Exeter flanker Don Armand was not asked.
We can't say the latter is a surprise any more, but honestly - what does that man have to do?
  JASE THE DETOX ACE
What a sight for anyone browsing Twitter on a hangover this week.
There was Jason Leonard, one of the great figures in the history of the game, the most-capped England player of all time (114 Tests, plus five for the Lions no less), the one they all called the 'fun-bus', a legend for not only being able to scrummage on both sides, but also drink every beer in sight and still turn up to the team-run, a World Cup winner who then became RFU President, covered in sea-weed and wrapped up in what looked like cling-film.
It reminded us of that scene from The Full Monty where Dave is so sub-conscious about his weight ahead of the big night, he goes to his shed, wraps c We love you Jase, but probably could have done without that on our timeline.

And we don't even want to know what the 'Hannibal Lecter Detox' is.
If Leonard is into wellness and cleansing, what has the world come to!?
  HORRID LUCK FOR HALFPENNY
Leigh Halfpenny has not played for eight weeks now.

The Wales full-back was taken out by Samu Kerevi in the win over Australia late and failed an HIA.
He is still having concussion symptoms and now is seeing a specialist.
Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac said: 'We want to get some reassurance that we are doing the right things and make sure we stay on track.
'He was training at the start of the week and still picking up the odd issue there in terms of headaches.
'Leigh is very frustrated.

You can see a leg injury, these things are easy to deal with, you can see a finish line. Muscles take this amount of time to heal, broken bones take that amount of time.
Leigh Halfpenny has not played for eight weeks and he still has concussion symptoms
'But you don't know as much about the head injuries that occur.
'It is frustrating for all concerned, more so for Leigh.'
This is why concussion is such a frightening yet important issue in rugby, and one not to be messed with.
And it makes it even more alarming that Kerevi was never carded, cited or punished for the tackle.
Rugby's disciplinary system strikes again. Those sorts of tackles will never be outlawed completely if not punished properly - and more will have to spend months out.

No one wants that.
Referees, officials and citing commissioners must be extra harsh on anything that endangers heads. It is too dangerous to do otherwise.
  STATCAVE
5 - Defeats in a row in all competitions for Wasps - and they have won only once in 13 fixtures, the victory over Bristol in mid-November their solitary win since September.
1 - Loss in 12 matches for Bath against Worcester in the league.

That came at Sixways in April 2017 - when Bath lost 25-19.
2013 - The last time Harlequins won at Newcastle. They are terrible travellers, with one win in 14 Premiership away trips, and their previous victory in the North West came in December 2013.
Wasps have now suffered five straight defeats - they have won only once in 13 fixtures
0 - Back-to-back league wins for Leicester at home since March, but Gloucester have not won at Welford Road since October 2007.
2009 - Exeter's last loss to Bristol in any competition. That was when both teams were in the Championship.

The Chiefs have won the last six between the sides, but almost lost at Ashton Gate in November, scoring a last-gasp winner to triumph 31-29.
1 - Defeat only for Sale at home this season. They have been strong at the AJ Bell, with their only loss coming to Wasps (31-13) in September.
  PREMIERSHIP MATCH GUIDES
SALE v SARACENS (Friday 7.45pm AJ Bell Stadium LIVE BT Sport 1 from 7pm)
Billy Vunipola and Liam Williams have handed Sarries a double boost as they return from injuries to start up in Sale.
It's a typically formidable line-up for the champions with Owen Farrell, Mako Vunipola and Schalk Burger all playing - but Jamie George is taking a week of mandatory rest.
Sale have old Sarry Chris Ashton at full-back and Josh Strauss at No 8.

Tom Curry and Faf de Klerk play too.
Prediction: Away win - Billy's back, and so the pack will send Sale back.
EXETER v BRISTOL (Saturday 3pm Sandy Park)
Jack Nowell is back - playing for the second team rather than the first on his return, but Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jonny Hill both return to start.
Henry Slade also starts at outside centre having appeared off the bench last Friday.
England star Henry Slade starts at outside centre having appeared off the bench last Friday
Bristol change much of their pack, with only Chris Vui and Jordan Crane remaining from last weekend.
Prediction: Home win - And not a cider un-drunk among the West Country crowds.
LEICESTER v GLOUCESTER (Saturday 3pm Welford Road LIVE BT Sport 1 from 2.30pm)
Kyle Eastmond is back on the Tigers' bench after a ban for a dangerous tackle in December, as Jonah Holmes moves to full-back and Jordon Olowofela comes onto the wing.
Ben Morgan captains Gloucester from No 8 as Johan Ackermann makes 12 changes from the home loss to Sale.
Ollie Thorley and Will Atkinson come back after knocks and Gerbrandt Grobler and Franco Mostert make up an all-South African second-row.
Prediction: Home win - Gloucester look more lost without Danny Cipriani, and never win at Welford Road.
NEWCASTLE v HARLEQUINS (Saturday 3pm Kingston Park)
Mike Brown breaks Quins' 46-year-old appearance record set by Grahame Murray by playing his 308th match for the London club at Newcastle.
Alex Dombrandt moves to No 8 as James Chisholm is rested, so Danny Care captains.

Fijian 7s Gold-medal winner Semi Kunatani plays flanker.
Mike Brown breaks Quins' appearance record by playing his 308th match against Newcastle
Newcastle have Will Witty back at lock for the first time since October, but Toby Flood is out with a head knock.
Prediction: Home win - Quins just cannot win back to back, this win would be crucial for the Falcons.
WORCESTER v BATH (Saturday 3pm The Rec)
Ben Te'o plays his second consecutive club match for the first time this season, partnering Francois Venter in the Worcester centres.
Bath make five changes with Dave Attwood, Charlie Ewels, Zach Mercer, Jacques van Rooyen and Cooper Vuna all in to start.
In-form half-backs Will Chudley and Freddie Burns continue their partnership, though.
Prediction: Away win - Bath have won two on the spin, why not a third?
WASPS v NORTHAMPTON (Sunday 3pm Ricoh Arena)
Dylan Hartley still has not recovered from a sore knee so Tom Wood captains the Saints.
Northampton also hand a start to 19-year-old star Fraser Dingwall.
Wasps welcome back Joe Launchbury after knee and neck troubles, and Nathan Hughes has returned from his grandfather's funeral in Fiji to take a spot on the bench.
Prediction: Home win - Northampton resurgent, Wasps dropping like a stone, pinfaves.com so it would be typical of this season for them to win.
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