By The Analyst
August 6 2002

A club of long standing, Sarries for some time before the pro era always produced good players. But unfortunately they couldn't get all that many games with the perceived top clubs and ended up losing a lot of their best players such as Jason Leonard and Ben Clarke to the likes of Bath and Quins. However in the professional era they hit the ground running with the help of Nigel Wray's deep pockets and they have been one of the giants of the pro game in England leading the drive towards viability by their astute marketing and development of community relations.

LAST SEASON
Last season was one of turmoil for the club and Sarries flirted uncomfortably with the drop. From afar, it seemed as if the eventual departure of Tony Diprose , on top of the earlier departure of the marginalised Mark Evans, (see Quins link below) had rather torn the heart out of the club.

With Richard Hill having a quiet term by his lofty standards, Scott Murray sporadic in fitness and application, and Abdel Benazzi past his best, there was a lack of an experienced dynamic core about the forwards, especially the front five.

Too often David Flatman was having to play at three, where he can survive, rather than one where he can dominate. Although Kyran Bracken had one of his less-injured seasons, there was a lack of quality at ten, where Jannie de Beer (briefly) then Luke Smith proved little more than prodigious kickers, which with a weak pack was little help.

Other teams successfully closed down the game and played the corners, preventing the pace and skill of the backs from shining,and the iconic Tommy Castanets was only able to return from injury too late to make a difference.

The eventual resignation of Francois Pienaar was an honourable act, perhaps disguising some of the earlier damage caused by the office politics which led to the departure of Evans and Diprose. At the end of the season Sarries were being coached and selected by a committee of senior pros. Interestingly this may have benefits this year. It will have bound the survivors closer and most coaches will look with favour on the development of a cadre of leaders within a team.


TRANSFERS
Out go, Kalid Benazzi, Scott Murray, Cheesebrough, Durrandt, Magellan,de Beer, Luke Smith and Walshe.

In come, Goode, Nicky Little, Craig.Quinnell, Yandell, Ross ,Califano , Marsters,and Morgan Williams .

the theme running through the signings is that Sarries are not prepared to be shoved around again up front, in the set or in the loose. Both Goode and Little are prodigious with the boot, but may offer rather more than the 10s who played last year. T

The front rowers, Califano, Marsters and Ross are all big solid units, even if Califano is past his best around the park. Quinnell needs to buckle down and produce his best, which can be awesome, and Yandell is another very powerful man . Morgan Williams is a strong competitive 9 who doesn't get injured easily.

Verdict-they have signed well

MANAGEMENT
Wray has taken back control having gone back to the early commercial team who proved so successful and has had to shake free of the charisma of Pienaar. The appointment of Buck Shelford is likely to do more than any other single thing to change their prospects. He also is a charismatic figure, but from an earlier era and from outside the club, whereas Pienaar was trying to manage players who were former teammates. Buck has brought in his own fitness man and maybe more staff.

All players will start equal, all will be expected to shed blood for the cause. Silly mistakes will not be as prevalent after five games under Buck as they were to start with. The players will be given a relatively simple game plan and he will make sure they know and understand it and execute it with vigour and precision.

PROSPECTS
A good start would be nice, as home gates would then go through the roof. However, even a slow start under the new coach will probably not be disastrous, as lessons will be learned. No-one will want to lose for Buck for long!

Teams who took their backs out of the game by dominating their forwards will have to find a different gameplan, and if Castaignede and Horan are fit for most of the season Sarries may prove a very serious package.

Last year they were big underperformers with an unhappy team. Their problem was not a lack of talent but holes in morale and a lack of fundamentals. It seems highly unlikely that these problems will persist.

Big challenge for top five place, maybe better if they get on a roll early?