Northampton Saints v Saracens - Zurich Preview

By Maverick
March 26 2004

Harold Wilson once said, "A week is a long time in politics". So how do you describe a five week break from competitive rugby at Franklins Gardens? I don't know about you but it seems a blinking long time!

Saints return to the Zurich Premiership fray this Saturday against Saracens knowing that each one of the last five games of the regular season is a mini cup-final if ambitions of an end of season finale are to be realised.

Prior to the Six Nations enforced siesta, Saints were on a bit of a roll winning seven out of eight matches since the turn of the year, the only blip in this impressive record being the reverse at FG to Llanelli. So, how will the Saintsmen react to the lenghty lay-off? Will we see the stuttering performance witnessed at Vicarage Road or the champagne rugby a la the complete demolition of Sale? Questions, questions...

Saracens are plagued with fitness problems and it would appear are struggling to find 22 players to name in the programme. Top names missing from a full strength side include Taine Randell, Raphael Ibanez, Tony Roques and Alex Codling all of whom are ruled out through injury. Add in the loss of Richard Hill to England and Nicky Little serving a 3 week ban and you can see that they are having problems in selecting a strong team. Sarries coach Rod Kafer has been forced to throw teenagers Tom Lawy and Don Barrell in at the deep end. 19 year old Lawy starts at number 7 whilst Barrell, who has only just turned 18, sits along side veteran Kyran Bracken on the bench.

The Saracens side for Saturday is as follows:
1 Steven Sparks
2 James Parkes
3 Cobus Visagie
4 Simon Raiwalui
5 Craig Yandell
6 Ryan Peacey
7 Tom Lawy
8 Kris Chesney
9 Morgan Williams
10 Thomas Castaignede
11 Denis Cech
12 Kevin Sorrell
13 Ben Johnston
14 Paul Bailey
15 Robbie Kydd

reps - Johnny Marsters, Emiliano Bergamaschi, Ben Broster, Daniel Legge, Donald Barrell, Kyran Bracken, Matt Honeyben

On the Saints side, Wayne Smith has the luxury of picking from virtually a full strength side (international call ups excepted). Steve Williams returns to the bench having improved his fitness levels with the Wanderers and it is good to see the welcome return to the 22 of Nick Beal who has now recovered from his rib injury. In the starting XV Mark Soden gets just reward for his Wandies performances and he starts at No.8.

Saints side for Saturday:

15 BRUCE REIHANA
14 Mark Tucker
13 Chris Hyndman
12 JOHN LESLIE (c)
11 ORIOL RIPOL
10 Shane Drahm
9 MARK ROBINSON
1 ROBBIE MORRIS
2 Dan Richmond
3 Chris Budgen
4 Matt Lord
5 MARK CONNORS
6 ANDREW BLOWERS
7 Darren Fox
8 Mark Soden

Reps: Matt Miles, TEVITA TAUMOEPEAU, STEVE WILLIAMS, Grant Seely, Johnny Howard, TOM SMITH, NICK BEAL

So, what can we expect come match day? Everything points to a comfortable Saints victory and, as the tension starts to mount as we hurtle head long to the end of the season, this match must be seen as a "five pointer". The likes of Bruce Reihana and Oriol Ripol should deliver the goods as the ground conditions start to improve and the 9/10 axis of Shane and Sharky will be looking to boss the game from the first whistle. What Saints must do is build on the terrific performance against Sale. In that game, even with the win in the bag by half time, the team did not take their foot off the gas and were utterly ruthless for the full 80 minutes. I hope and expect for more of the same on Saturday.

Saints by (at least) 20.