By Rupert Thacker
November 26 2004

This Saturday sees Saracens head up the M1 to Welford Road, Leicester, for the game which heralds the halfway point of the Zurich Premiership this season. Off the pitch, Leicester have had one heck of a week – the announcement of the proposed departure from the traditions of Welford Road to the brave new world of the Walkers Stadium has caused the expected mix of rancour, reluctant acceptance and enthusiasm and it will be interesting to see exactly how the home crowd reacts.

Will there be protests (as have been mooted on their message board) or will all be forgotten for 80 minutes? Whatever happens on the terraces, don’t think for a moment that the prospect of a move will affect the players in any way at all. Skipper Martin Johnson will, without doubt, not let that happen.

On the pitch, this season has seen a resurgent Leicester back up at the top of the Premiership. Fortunately for Sarries, Leicester’s leading try scorer Seru Rabeni is injured and that’s one threat out of the way. Combine the England call ups and you would imagine that Leicester may be short – not a bit of it.

Any side that contains Martin Johnson, Neil Back, Austin Healey and Andy Goode, plus Richard Cockerill, Sam Vesty and Daryl Gibson is formidable. The one place Sarries may find joy is, bizarrely enough, in the front row. Michael Holford vs Cobus Visagie may not be a fair contest, Cockerill v Cairns will be vital and Darren Morris v Kevin Yates will certainly be worth watching! Even then, it’s a huge ask for our pack to control the overall cohesion and control of Leicester’s.

At Saracens, Glen Jackson has recovered from illness and takes his place on the bench while Mark Bartholomeusz continues at 10 after another more-than-competent performance last time out.

There is mixed news on the injury front for Rod Kafer. Alex Sanderson, who left the Gloucester match with a hamstring injury has not recovered and Ben Skirving comes in at open side. David Seymour is back on the bench to cover the back row and, after nearly two months on the sidelines, Thomas Castaignede makes the 22 and, from his place amongst the replacements, covers last week's 14 point hero Robbie Kydd at fullback and centre pairing Ben Johnston and Kevin Sorrell.

Saracens’ four ZP wins this season have been comprised of winning ugly twice (Wasps and Gloucester), winning slightly fortunately (Worcester) and winning well (Northampton). “Jekyll and Hyde” has never been a more apt cliché and it’s hard to know which personality will run out over the Crumbie Terrace.

Overall, the head firmly says a home win. Leicester at Welford Road is never going to be easy and, in light of last week events, those Tigers will be even more determined than usual to win well. Our one chink of light is that both Barnes and Morris tipped Leicester to win so, with their record, that’s a guaranteed 5 point away win. In reality, I think not.