Saracens' Analysis

By Lawrence Aggleton
August 31 2008

 

Head Coach: Eddie Jones

EPS Players: 1 (Steve Borthwick)

Last Season GP: 8^th

Last Season Europe: HC SF

European Group (ECC): Bayonne, Mont de Marsan, Viadana

Pre-Season:

@ Bayonne L

Vs Western Force W

@ Toulon W

@ Dragons W

First Four:

"Vs" Quins

@ Sale

Vs Newcastle

Vs Saints

Big Outs: Richard Hill (retired), Alan Dickens (Saints)

Big Ins: Steve Borthwick (Bath), Ben Jacobs (NSW)

Key Man: Kameli Ratavou

If you took Sarries pack and Quins backs you'd probably have the best team in England. However, where Quins seem to be recruiting cannily, there are questions about Sarries. Steve Borthwick is a superb lineout forward and leader, but you wonder if Sarries wouldn't have been better off with that other Bath departure - Olly Barkley (I'd actually say Gloucester would have been better off with Borthwick too). Glen Jackson is a great fly-half on the game line, but less so behind it, and the ELVs may conspire against him. They should win some wrestling matches, but I'm less hopeful about their general creativity.

Premiership: They should win some wrestling matches, but I'm less hopeful about their general creativity. At least they shouldn't lose too many to England. Prediction: 7^th.

Europe: They lost at Bayonne in pre-season, but expect a decent campaign. Prediction: ECC SF.