By Wyddy
March 21 2013

Zzzzz... hmmm? What’s that? Asleep for 5 weeks you say? Well I’d damned well like to know what’s been occurring round here – spill! What’s that you say? Quins only 2nd in the table? England on for a grand slam and then dissected at the Millenium Stadium by a rampant Welsh side? A team of youngsters humble a couple of full strength top flight sides on their way to a performance of vim and vigour to clinch the LV Cup? 

Certainly seems like a long time since I put frostbitten pinkie to keyboard... 

What a game to come back to however. A nice trip up to the shiny new Allianz Park, I wonder what gags will be in store for us after Exeter had a rather corpulent lady warble at them (to be honest I thought that was original and worthy of a chuckle)... 

From what we hear, they’re rolling out the red carpet for us, Harley and Charley receiving personal invitations, flying a Quins flag above their South Stand, being given a presentation to our supporters club... something’s afoot! 

This is a full on charm offensive from our usually stolid fellows in Barnet. Let’s hope their team will be half as obliging to a Quins team keen on erasing the memory of Exeter romping home at the Stoop. Quins don’t have to look far for inspiration, merely a look at the subs bench should provide a swift boot to the posterior... in the absence of the older hands the young Tyros (and messrs Fa’asavalu and Williams) destroyed both the Bath and Sale 1st teams in the LV= Cup. That’s the second trophy this season for a Quins team that we hope have rediscovered their appetite for battle, as that’s what it’s going to take against a Sarries side who have been sweeping all before them in recent weeks. 

Their last three matches have been bonus point wins over Exeter, Leicester and London Welsh – this haul of points has enabled them to leapfrog Quins and they lead the table by 4 points. If anyone wanted to see how a team shorn of its 6 Nations players should look to play, they need only look at Sarries. 

For a long time now, Saracens have persisted with a rotation policy, oft times ridiculed that they would rest some of their stronger players and come a cropper on the wrong side of a close game. However those players they gave game time to last season and earlier this season have proven that this exercise is far from fruitless. Bit part players from those early rotations have stepped forward in the absence of the internationals, Joel Tomkins, David Strettle, James Short, Chris Wyles to name but a few have made light of what is traditionally a tough period for sides with 6 Nations attendees. 

Add to that a pack that is heavy on power, streetwise and able to wear down most opposition at the set piece – not to mention the rejuvenated Charlie Hodgson, and you can see why they’re the form team in the Prem. Gnarled campaigners like Hodgson, such as Borthwick, Joubert and baby faced penalty machine Matt Stevens have steadied the Sarries ship whilst Leicester and Quins have hit sizeable swells. What used to be a team that would grind others down and then snaffle the game with penalty after penalty, are now a team who have begun to find a ruthless rhythm... They are unbeaten in their new digs and their running game has developed, they still only cut loose and begin to trust it after trying their normal method but they employ it so much better. Anyone who views Saracens as an up the jumper, boring, penalty kicking team these days will be in for a surprise. 

Saracens have sent out Short on loan to Bedford and look set to bring at least one of their England internationals back into the back three. Whether it is to be the world weary and much put upon tackletastic Ashton or Alex Goode, who also didn’t cover himself in glory the past few games will be interesting. Also back in the mix for Sarries will be Owen Farrell (if he has recovered from that hamstring tweak) and Brad Barritt. With the sparky Tomkins alongside him in the centres they will have a solid mix of defence and the fleet footedness the former League convert brings with him. JTH and (I assume) Matt Hopper will have their hands full both defensively and offensively. However let’s not fool ourselves, the onslaught will begin up front in the opening quarter as Sarries attempt to put the newly restored Quins pack under pressure. 

Up front they will have Vunipola reunited with Brits and Stevens in what remains a very dangerous front row combination. At lock they will continue with Borthwick to augment both set pieces and look for them to bring in Botha for this top of the table clash to bring some additional grunt – especially if Quins are shorn of the services of Ollie Kohn. Their back row, still shorn of so much talent, will be well balanced with in form Joubert (does he not age?!?), and young firebrands, Jackson Wray and Will Fraser who will be up against either Robshaw or Wallace...

Quins face some difficult decisions of their own in selection. As mentioned above, Robshaw may come back in, but if he does then what happens to the on fire Wallace? Will we finally see the back row many have been crying out for with Wallace taking the 7 shirt and Robshaw moving across to take 6? Even behind at 8 where once it would have been a clear call for Easter to come back in, how does Conor ignore the stellar form of try machine Tom Guest? Not to mention Big Mo who has slowly been coming back to his best and Joe Trayfoot who has had such a good LV campaign... For me, with the danger of Sarries, I see Conor playing Guesty at 6, Robshaw at 7 and Minty at 8, with Luke coming on from the bench. 

Up front selection doesn’t get any easier, Joe Marler comes back home after being the scapegoat for a lot of Englands problems, it’s up to the fans to make him feel appreciated again, however he’s coming back to a scrap as Lambert has been in fine form in the No1 shirt. Over at hooker Conor’s preference for Joe Gray in the big games should see him selected but fellow England Saxon, Rob Buchanan, has a growing following who want to see him get big game experience. Tight head seems to be the only nailed on selection in the front, with James Johnston taking over from Will Collier. Expect to see the return of the Goat as George Robson resumes his duties in the engine room, and depending on big Ollie Kohns fitness expect him to resume their partnership, if he doesn’t make it Charlie Matthews will step in fresh from his LV Cup heroics. 

At scrum half, Karl Dickson has put behind him his woeful early season form where he really wasn’t hitting the heights we know he can, to turn in two match winning performances in the semi and the final of the LV Cup. However with Danny Care coming back in, expect him to take his place on the subs bench as Danny can hopefully replicate the form he showed just before heading off with England. Nick Evans should be fit to resume his duties at No10 and boy do we need him to shake off his usual getting back to form gremlins after a bit of an injury lay off. However capable deputy, Ben Botica will be on the bench, yet another young player who is starting to attract comments that maybe he should be starting with a few supporters. 

Moving to the backs, even though Tom Casson has been in rich form in the LV and George Lowe looks to be approaching his last season best, we should see the reacquaintance of JTH and Matt Hopper. I’m a big fan of this combination although G Lo is beginning to push hard for his old shirt back. On the wings if Tom Williams can get over a slight tweak he should resume with big Ugo on the other wing after his tidy little break in Dubai. Which leaves us with the no 15 shirt... Ross Chisholm, in his last 2 performances has shown that with every collision his confidence is returning, in the final – sing hallelujah – his pace was back! He was searing into contact and cutting angles like he did before his Leicester injury, however with the return of Mike Brown, I expect him to make way for the return of our no1 full back (not a winger)... What a wonderful turn of events that we have so much competition for our 1st XV. Truly a credit to all the staff at the club and for the 2nd string to put such pressure on their counterparts. 

This is all set up to kick off massively in what will inevitably be a tight game. Will Quins be able to ride the momentum of our young guns superb win in the LV Cup? Will Sarries be able to pick up their domestic dominance where they left off?

All this under the roof of Saracens superb new stadium, where running rugby is the order of the day... also where they are unbeaten... 

What’s that you say? A smiling Irishman and a blissful collection of motley fools... what could be better... 

Quins by 5pts!!!!!! 

COYQ!!!!!!! 

Wyddy