By The Saracens
November 5 2021

This Saturday sees the visit of London Irish to StoneX and arguably one of our most difficult games given the large number of our squad who are unavailable:- Jamie, Vincent, Adams-Hale, Pifeleti, Riccioni, Maro, Kpoku, Hunter-Hill, Billy, Faz, Tompkins, Taylor (??), Max & Elliott for starters. Dom Morris may also be out. Actually that’s not a bad team! Still apparently we have a really good record during the international windows so there is hope – but it means a number of our understudies need to take centre stage.

As for Irish – neither Andy Farrell or Eddie hasn’t come knocking on their door and even Augustin Creevy isn’t required by the Pumas although their other 3 Argentinians, Juan Martin Gonzalez Samso, Facundo Gigena & Lucio Cinti Luna are in their squad. Steve Mafi is also away with Tonga.

The Irish team may not be full of superstars, but they have a good solid squad of players who know each other well and when things click they are dangerous. Paddy Jackson seems to have kept his head down and made the most of a new start for Irish, and is in the form of his life. His partnership with Nick Phipps has been the driving force for much of Irish’s success. They have also signed Welsh flanker Ollie Cracknell and he is likely to feature somewhere on Saturday.

Irish lost away to Wuss in the first round then drew at home with Sale Sharks before a narrow away defeat to Northampton. They lost at home to Leicester, but by a very respectable score of 16-21 (eat your hearts out Saints) then managed a 2^nd draw at home, this time to Gloucester. In round 6 Irish finally achieved a win – but what a result, away at Sandy Park before coming down to earth and losing at home to Bristol last week. So something of a curate’s egg then. Interestingly Irish have gained at least a point in every match (including 4 try bonus points). They currently sit in 8^th place with 14 points.

Ben Loader Irish’s young winner has been tearing up trees. He missed the game with Bristol but may be back this weekend. The Irish back line has generally been functioning well with plenty of try-scoring potential. Irish have actually scored more tries than Saracens (26 v 25) with only Quins and Leicester scoring more. Unfortunately they have also conceded almost as many tries (24) as they have scored! Saracens’ renowned defence will need to be on their toes.

So who will be playing for the Men in Black on Saturday? Mark McCall will have to rejig his squad and plug a few international and injury gaps. Despite his fabulous performance on Sunday, the mid field looks vulnerable without Tompkins (and possibly Dom) and Smally might be tempted to move Loz back to the centres. I suspect Goodey will go to 10 (although again I wasn’t convinced by Obatoyinbo under the high ball – but then we’ve been spoiled for so long with Goode). One option would be to play Maitland at 15 with Lewington (yes I’ve forgiven him) and Segun on the wings. The other option would be to go with Manu. Van Zyl will probably get a 2^nd start at scrum half. We seem a bit short-handed in the front row. There are relative riches at loosehead - thankfully we have Mako and Baz in reserve - but tight-head is a challenge. I assume Alec Clarey will start with Sam Wainwright in reserve. With Pifelti unfit the hooker bearth goes to Woolstencroft with Ethan Lewis in reserve. Good old Tim Swinson must pull on his boots again presumably with Nick Isiekwe (although Theo McFarland looked useful last week). Jackson Wray will doubtless have to replace Billy again leaving Ben Earl at 7 and Reffell or Christie at 6.

Our referee I Ian Tempest. Hmmmmm. Assisted by Phil Watters and Jamie Leahy with Stuart Terheege in the truck. Oh dear.

Former Irish back Topsy Ojo recently said “Be proud of who you are and never let somebody tell you that something is not possible”. Irish will believe they can win on Saturday. It will be up to Sarries to prove them wrong.