PAPA'S GOT A BRAND NEW JERSEY

At the request of being labelled as a luddite by luminaries, this seems something of a questionable move by Irish. Unsurprisingly, given the poor form this season, attendances have trickled below 6000, and, though a larger gate is assured for the St Patrick's Day game, a greater priority would have seemed to be reconnecting to the London audience, especially given the huge support the Irish international side attracted in the Rugby World Cup. Consequently, a game at the Olympic Stadium or perhaps a London Premiership venue would perhaps have been more logical at this stage in the club's development, although, that said, they did have a home match in the London Double Header. As with this international game, the double header is classed as good for the league brand, but the rejigging of the European Cup shows that clubs and league officials were happy to discard the established Heineken Cup brand when it suited them, so what is more important, the clubs or the tournaments they play in? Surely the way to establish an interest in the game as a whole is to have regular international matches, so it is odd that the USA never returned here after 2010. It doesn't seem a largely strange expectation that a regular season club game, as opposed to a pre season friendly, is played somewhere vaguely near the club's home base (and no, I didn't go to Brussels).

 

So switching from the soapbox to the pitch, despite their lowly position, Irish have been competitive in a number of their games, especially at home, but have been caught adrift by improvements in form by both Newcastle Falcons and Worcester Warriors, even though they have earnt home victories against both. Effectively, Irish have suffered from having to play catch up, as they failed to collect a single point from any of their opening six games. The campaign began with a fairly even 28-16 home defeat to Leicester Tigers, but Irish missed too many tackles, and Tommy Bell, who will be joining the Madejski Stadium side next season, was able to claim seven penalties, as the sides each scored a try apiece. The trip to Exeter Chiefs saw a 38-11 defeat, where there was some promising ground made by the visitors backline, but the home side made over 500 metres in the match, although the Exiles proved more competitive as they travelled to NW4 in their third game, leading 7-3 at the break with a well-worked try from Fijian winger Asaeli Tikoirotuma which showed the potential of the side, and despite a second try, Saracens eventually earnt a 24-14 win. However, any sense of emerging optimism was crushed by a 45-14 home loss to Bath in which scrum half Brendan McKibbin was red carded inside the first quarter. That said, the next game, the 33-15 defeat to Wasps at HQ did have some positives with some stern first half defence and two tries from centre Johnny Williams, an academy product, and one of the bright spots of the season. However, they missed 29 tackles and were well beaten in the 38-7 loss across the road at Harlequins. 

 

The visit of Northampton Saints was to bring a late Christmas present, though, as Irish won a thrilling match 25-23, as early tries from Sean Maitland and Luke Narraway provided an early 15-3 lead and the platform for victory, allied to some committed defence. 2016 opened with a 27-14 loss at Gloucester, where the Exiles got off to a similarly strong start, but couldn't hold on against sustained forward pressure in the second half. Back in Reading, Irish edged a nervy, and vital, 20-15 home win over Newcastle Falcons. Leading 6-0 at the break, they scored immediately in the second half as Alex Lewington  latched onto Shane Geraghty's kick off and soon after Topsy Ojo's converted try established a 20-0 lead, but they struggled to close the game out which finished with the visitors hammering the home line. 

A 38-10 loss was suffered at Sale Sharks before they returned home and secured another crucial win as Worcester Warriors were seen off 20-13 in a positive attacking display which brought fine tries for Ciaran Hearn and Andrew Fenby, and after a 35-7 defeat at Northampton Saints, the Exiles were unlucky to lose 22-15 at home to Exeter Chiefs, making 150 tackles, but paying for basic mistakes in defence and attack and a dubious call for one of the Exeter tries. A 47-20 loss at Leicester and damaging 25-17 loss at Bath, who the visitors were hoping to drag into the relegation equation, bring the story up to date. Europe has offered some respite, as the Exiles have battled their way to a European Challenge Cup Quarter Final at Harlequins with three wins, home and away against Agen and home against Edinburgh yielding progress. 

 

With the Six Nations on its penultimate weekend, Saracens will be forced into further changes against a side whose backline could cause problems with their movement and craft, despite their lowly position, but, equally, could be punished on the counter attack from their mistakes. Irish should start with Sean Maitland at full back, with Alex Lewington and Topsy Ojo on the wings, outside Hearn and Williams in the centre. New signing Greig Tonks could be the starting fly half alongside scrum half Scott Steele. Into the forwards, and the starting front row should include Tom Court, David Paice and Halani Aulika, with a second row combination of Matt Symons and Elliott Stooke, and a back row trio of Blair Cowan, Narraway and Rob McCusker. Saracens will need to deploy an effective kicking game to prevent breaks from deep from the likes of Lewington, as Irish will look to keep the ball in hand, but Sarries will hope to pressure them into handling errors which they seem to be susceptible to at the moment, and with Alex Goode and Ellery in the side, will threaten as usual on the counter. The Exiles pack has had its moments, but also disappointing moments, so they will look to gain an edge here too. A possible starting XV has Goode at full back, with Mike Ellery and Wyles on the wings, and Nick Tompkins accompanying Brad Barritt in the centre. Nils Mordt should remain at fly half, alongside scrum half Ben Spencer. Forwards-wise, Richard Barrington should start with Jared Saunders and Petrus du Plessis, with a second row combination of Smith and Jon Hamilton, and a back row of Michael Rhodes, Will Fraser and Jackson Wray. 

 

Safe journey of course to all of those travelling. But spare a thought for London Irish fans - a week on Sunday, it's the St Patrick's Day game, with the usual customised kit, so two New Jerseys in a week...