Horan to step into de Beer's boots

Tim Horan, Australia's World Cup centre, could start the season as emergency fly-half at Saracens following their latest injury blow.

After losing French star Thomas Castaignede for at least six months following a second operation on a ruptured Achilles tendon, Saracens have been hit by a knee injury to South African fly-half Jannie de Beer.

De Beer, who joined Saracens in March, is unlikely to be fit until the end of September after damaging the knee in Edinburgh on Saturday.

Horan, currently organising the Saracens squad for the Middlesex Sevens at Twickenham next Saturday, is virtually the only choice to fill the gap.