By Darraghgirl
May 22 2019

The season is brewing up nicely for the climax of the Gallagher Premiership and Saracens, reigning Champions and newly crowned Champions of Europe (sounds good doesn’t it) will take on Gloucester Rugby on Saturday for the right to defend their domestic title at Twickenham.

We’ve been here before of course, most recently in 2017 when Saracens beat Clermont in Edinburgh and came so close to reaching HQ but for that phenomenal Henry Slade kick at Sandy Park. In 2017 the team were out on their feet. They had given everything to retain their European crown and the effort had taken its toll. Many players were carrying injuries and the semi-final was a step too far. This time things are a little different. There is an extra week between the European final and the Gallagher semis, a week which the first team squad could have off as Sarries had already secured a home draw. Quite rightly, the winners in Newcastle have been given time to celebrate (Alex Goode!) and recover. (And let’s not forget Storm also won the A league title 2 days later so I don’t suppose there were many of the squad who went to bed sober last week).

Mark McCall has assured us that apart from the 2 props, Mako & Titi, the rest of the squad should be fit for Saturday. The way Sarries played in Newcastle, no club team (and maybe no international team) in the world could have lived with them but that, as they say, is history and the outcome of the game on Saturday will be decided on the pitch, not on paper. Can Sarries raise themselves to that level again? It seems a big ask but I have no doubt they will give it their all. Sarries have a habit of playing to the level of their opponents – not flat-track bullies, but able to thrive in the rarified atmosphere of the very best. Gloucester will be no pushover. They earned the right to third place with a week to spare allowing Johan Ackermann the luxury of resting many of his key players in the final round of the Premiership where Gloucester came off just 2^nd best in  very entertaining game up at the AJ Bell, scoring 6 tries in defeat. They will come to Allianz with all guns blazing. Saracens won the encounter at Allianz 38-15 back in September while Gloucester won the return at Kingsholm in February, 30-24.  The teams last met in the semi-final stage during the 2011/12 season back at Vicarage Road. Sarries were supposed to win comfortably but in the end it was a tense game with Sarries winning 12-10. It hasn’t all been plain sailing for Sarries playing semi-finals at Allianz. Who can forget 2012/13 when Northampton came to Barnet and left with an unexpected 27-13 win. Since then Sarries have won their 3 home semi finals – against Quins in 13/14, Leicester in 15/16 and last year against Wasps 57-33. But let that game against Saints be a reminder that complacency is not acceptable.

This game has been marketed as the duel between the 2 fly halves – Owen Farrell, England’s stand off and captain: reliable, cool in a crisis with a penchant for the shoulder charge versus Danny Cipriani, magician, playmaker and the possible answer to England’s prayers if only Eddie Jones would give him the chance. They are very different characters, Faz hewn out of northern granite and as tough as they come, Cips the flawed genius who can’t quite stop himself from getting into trouble. This game is seen as his last chance to weasel his way into the world cup squad. Personally I think he should be there – he has that touch of magic which can sometimes turn a game, but can sometimes cost his team victory as well.

But Gloucester are no one trick pony. “36” (Billy Twelvetrees) has had an excellent season and his reliability with the kicking tee has taken much of the pressure off Cips. The backs are dangerous with the likes of Charlie Sharples, Ollie Thorley and a revitalised Matt Banahan waiting in the wings. The Gloucester pack are no push-overs, featuring Jaco Kriel, Jake Polledri, Ruan Ackermann, Ben Morgan,  and Ed Slater with a settled front row of Hohneck, Marais and Balmain. Apparently Slater and Thorley are both injury doubts and will need to pass a fitness test on Thursday to be in consideration. If they don’t make it, Gloucester will probably field a line-up something like this:

Woodward, Sharples, Twelvetrees, Atkinson, Purdy, Cipriani, Heinz; Hohneck, Marais, Balmain, Ludlow, Mostert, Ackerman, Kriel, Morgan

I assume that Sarries will probably field the team that started the second half at St James’ Park. The only debate is probably if Mike Rhodes is fit but to be honest, I think he’s going to struggle to make the team anyway (who’d have thought we’d be saying that). So most likely:-

Goode, Williams, Lozowski, Barritt, Maitland, Spencer, Farrell; Barrington, George, Koch, Skelton, Kruis, Itoje, Wray, Billy Vunipola. I hope Burger and Stretts are on the bench and get the chance for one last hurrah at Allianz.

There is no lack of confidence on Shedweb – the Gloucester faithful are not just coming for the ride, they fully expect to go all the way. It will be up to Saracens to stop them. If Sarries put in half the performance they did against Leinster it should be enough but in a knock-out game, reputations count for nothing.

Luke Pearce has the whistle assisted by Karl Dickson and Paul Dix – could be a lot worse! Saracens are hot favourites. There was a time they would find such a thing a heavy burden to carry but these days they seem content with such things. Sarries should win but it’s a funny game!