By BrianC
December 21 2005

The Gods of the fixture list have not been kind to us this season. Our post Christmas game, one where we would normally expect a bumper crowd if we were at the Madejski, is an away game.

On the 27th we are back to Premiership action as we take on Saracens at Vicarage Road. I have little doubt that Sarries average gate will benefit from this and that those visiting VR will suffer all the attendant delays and queues that we have in recent years imposed on visiting teams for the same fixture.

When the fixtures were announced last May I pointed to the fact that this was an away one and stated that this was one of the key reasons our crowd numbers for this season would be down on last. Some questioned my reasoning, pointing to the Wasps game on the 31st as a major event. We’ll know who was correct by the end of this year but I still contend that, in terms of crowd numbers, the loss of a Boxing Day fixture is a blow to us.

In England there is a centuries old tradition of people going to sporting events on Boxing Day. New Years day is a relatively recent addition to the list of public holidays. The habit of going to sporting events on or around that day is not as deeply entrenched. For the last two seasons the total gates at Premiership games in the New Year’s round has been little more than that for an average weekend.

Anyhar, I digress. Let us move to the business in hand. The, not insignificant, matter of the game itself. Both teams currently sit mid-table. In our case this is somewhat higher than many expected of us. In that of our opponents it is arguably somewhat lower. Both teams will have this match marked on their cards as a ‘must win’. Certainly the team that wins this fixture will look much more likely to qualify for a much prized Heineken Cup place come the end of the season.

Vicarage Road has been a happy hunting ground for us in recent seasons, we have won there every year since 00/01. Last season, even though it was during one of the worst periods of LI performances I can recall, not only did we win at VR, we picked up our only try bonus point of the season in the process. We have played the Fez Boys once already this season, in the cup. Here we went down 32 - 13.

I was fortunate enough to see Saracens play Ulster in Belfast the other week. Whilst they went down 19 – 10 to a very tasty looking Ulster side I was impressed with what I saw. It was the sort of game Reading Fatboy would have loved. A real forwards battle with lots of grunt and many big hits. Our pack will have their work cut out for them, that is for sure.

Our back to back wins against Agen, most notably last weeks in France, have seen us take a few injuries. We won’t know how bad the toll is until we see the team sheet. Certainly JFK is out, we will miss him.

This is the time of year when, traditionally, London Irish performances start to tail off as injuries take their toll on a relatively small squad. The question many of us are asking is, Will this happen again this season? I happen to think not. Even allowing for our injury worries there appears to be a new steeliness about the team at present. Ultimately however the answer is in the players hands.

Happy Christmas everyone. Let’s hope the boys can make it even more Fez-tive for all of us.