The blood brothers turn on each other

Chris Jones13 April 2012

Richard Hill and Neil Back, having given blood for England, will try not to shed any more when they go head-to-head in the Tetley's Bitter Cup quarter-finals tomorrow.

The pair needed a total of 22 stitches on the gaping head wounds they suffered in the brutal win over South Africa at Twickenham last Saturday.

A week later, they are back on the pitch with their cuts protected by tape as Saracens travel to Welford Road to face Leicester.

Back and Hill feature in the outstanding tie of a round that sees Harlequins at home to Northampton tomorrow, while Sale entertain Waterloo and London Irish travel to Newcastle.

Mentally, the England players have been left drained by their three wins in a row and Hill has been easing himself back into club life at Saracens this week.

Zurich Premiership fixtures continued during the international programme with the clubs forced to play on without their top men.

Saracens suffered more than most, losing three successive League matches and their leadership of the Premiership.

Hill, who is likely to wear a headguard tomorrow, said: "It is strange going back to the club and there was an integration period.

"Mentally, it will be hard to get ready for a game so quickly after such an intense international period and you have to learn different calls and moves in a short space of time. All the England ones have to be forgotten.

"I will be up against Martin Johnson, Austin Healey, Martin Corry and Backy who have all been with me in the England camp. Having played for some time in the Test squad, I have got used to seeing team-mates becoming opponents one week later.

"This is a huge Cup match for Saracens and we need to get things back on track after those defeats because Wasps have overtaken us.

"There is still lots left in the tank physically, but the mental side of this is what you have to deal with. It takes a couple of days to stop replaying the international in your head and sleep isn't great.

"We will all be back as England with our partners on 18 December for a night out but no one has mentioned the squad has to do a fitness test during the day!"

Quins, second from bottom in the Premiership, have been finding ways to lose games they should have controlled in recent weeks. Ireland captain Keith Wood has a rib injury and misses the game with Tani Fuga coming in at hooker for Quins.

Jason Leonard, England's most capped Test player, will play his 200th game for the club, while Eric Peters, of Scotland, is on the bench after recovering from a long-term knee injury. London Irish had the boot of Barry Everitt to thank for their midweek win over Newcastle and the arrival of more bad weather will turn their quarter-final away to the same opposition into a mud-bath on Sunday. Jonny Wilkinson is set to return for Newcastle.

A decision on where the semi-finals will be staged will be made on Monday.

The ties are due to be played on the weekend of 6-7 January, the same as the third round of foot-ball's FA Cup.

As a result, London Irish are ready to give up any home advantage if Reading Football Club - who they share the Madejski Stadium with - are drawn at home in the FA Cup.

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