By ChrisC
December 17 2013

Friends.                                                                                                           The thing about friends is that the old ones are so often the best.  I sometimes meet up with friends from way back and, although we haven’t seen each other for seeming eons, once we’re together it’s as if the intervening time has disappeared as we pretty much pick up where we left off.

A group of us had coalesced around the local pub, some of us had work associations, some rugby, some school. We were a happy little band of brothers with the routine of an early evening drink – not a “session” (although we had those too) just a regular catch-up and rugby on Saturdays. 

We weren’t all always in attendance but one of our number; Brian, was the constant.  Now it’s true to say that Brian was a bit boring.  He worked for the council, had a job which even he found tedious and pointless, lived in a scruffy flat formed from what was once part of an elegant Victorian house, drove a beige Austin 1100, dressed from Oxfam and was a really nice bloke, universally liked by the rest of us – although we didn’t chance eating or drinking anything when we visited his flat to collect him to go to the rugby. 

Then he went missing. One of us went to his flat to check on him but when he answered the door he said he was fine but busy. 

That was it really.  All of us tried to make contact but were knocked back, then he was spotted in town and hardly recognisable with a new sartorial look, a smart haircut had arrived and trendy glasses had replaced his usual finger marked horn-rims. He was also hand in hand with a very attractive girl, so we guessed what he was busy doing. 

Brian hadn’t had much luck with the distaff side in the past and we heard through the grapevine that the girl came from a wealthy family, that Brian was now within her set of friends and that the Austin had given way to an MGB. Seemed onward and upward for our Brian and we resigned ourselves to our loss and hoped he was happy. 

The months passed until one spring evening there was Brian back in the pub, complete with new togs, haircut, specs., and his MGB in the car park.  None of us asked why he’d suddenly reappeared having blanked us for so long. We just said; “Alright Bri?” and he sheepishly nodded. 

Eventually he just said “She dumped me – said I was boring”.  We shrugged and one of us said “you coming to the rugby on Saturday? Oh and it’s your round”   He smiled ruefully while voicing his usual protest that it always seemed to be his round, got the drinks, said he’d be there for the match and that was it – there was nothing else to be said, he was back, and after all we were all old friends. 

This memory came to me when I was thinking about Tigers’ trip to Barnet to meet up with Saracens. 

Saracens have been around since 1876 so they’re no Johnny-come-latelies, their original formation pre-dating that of Tigers by four years.  The two clubs are then old friends and rivals. 

Saracens hit bad times in the 1980’s until at the end of the decade they gained promotion from the second division of the Courage League and then the next year finished fourth in the old first division. 

A league restructuring then saw them back in the new second division which from which they escaped as champions in 1994/5. 

It was around this time that Nigel Wray began devoting some of his considerable wealth to developing the club and it embarked on a series of failed dalliances with high profile players and coaches. The zenith of their achievement was a second place league finish to the Premiership’s inaugural champions; Newcastle, into whom John Hall had pumped his own extensive fortune, and victory in the real knock out cup, sponsored by Tetleys.  

It wasn’t until the arrival of Brendan Venter, the money of Johann Rupert and a whole slew of players from South Africa joined that stability also arrived and Saracens’ fortunes began to turn. 

They had new best friends now and from South Africa at that.  All very exotic, their old friends looked on in perplexed wonderment. 

Saracens won few friends now they were hanging out with the racy new crowd and were playing some typically “Venteresque” turgid rugby as had London Irish during Venter’s spell in charge there when there had also been an influx of South African players earning their ground the soubriquet of the “Reading high veldt”. 

The marketing strategies, antics and pronouncements from Saracens only poured petrol onto the inferno of disapproval from the rugby community and predictably the club’s supporters, management and players laagered their wagons against the opprobrium and scorn that was heaped on their beloved club now labelled as “Saffacens” by its detractors. 

To use the club’s spin, Saracens are indeed a club with a “South African flavour”, something that’s undeniable given its ownership and that almost 27% of its playing squad has its roots in southern Africa.  However the club also contributes 13% of its squad to the cause of England’s EPS with more to the Saxons, so it pays its dues on that front and from what I’ve seen is starting to play some more palatable rugby now that Venter and Andy Farrell are no longer part of the front line coaching team. 

I confess to having grown weary of the pejorative “Saffacens” and like the way that the club has once again made its public face that of Nigel Wray, who’s been quite splendid in his denouncement of ERC. 

So time for Saracens to come back to their old friends, they don’t need to espouse their new ones but it would be nice not to have the grating “innovations”. Maybe starting this weekend? 

This weekend’s combatants come to the fixture having had two very different Heineken Cup weekends.  

Tigers had two full blooded encounters with Montpellier, red in tooth and claw and which resulted in an historic win for Tigers which should set up Ulster’s visit to Welford Road as a winner takes all match to decide the pool. 

Meanwhile Saracens had a bit of opposed practice against Zebre which put them in a good position in their own pool as they contemplate the visit to Toulouse in January for another pool deciding encounter. 

Richard Cockerill has just six days to prepare his battered and bruised troops for the foray to Hertfordshire to meet on of the Premiership’s form sides who sit atop the league with Saints breathing down their necks just two points behind, while Tigers are ten points adrift in fifth spot. 

With Mako Vunipola only just recovered from injury young Gloucester born Richard Barrington, who played a solitary match for Bedford at the beginning of October after moving to the mainland from Jersey and before starting his Saracens’ career, has had a run of starts.  However with Vunipola now fit I expect to see him in the red and black of Saracens and that Schalk Brits will be rotated into the home side’s #2 shirt with one of the two standout close season signings by McCall; James Johnston, on the tight-head in favour of Stevens. 

Both Vunipola and the giant Samoan have had their issues with match officials when it comes to scrum time and it would be nice to feel that Richard Cockerill would be happy to rotate his own front row given the hard graft the first choice put in down in Montpellier and if Mulipola is fit I expect to see him play his part on Sunday, otherwise Marcos Ayerza will have to put in another shift. It’s similarly hard to see, that Balmain will start ahead of Dan Cole or Briggs ahead of Tom Youngs. 

If the Tigers’ first choice front row isn’t too fatigued I think they’ll get an edge over the likely home trio at scrum time.  In the loose Vunipola and Brits have loose play as their piece de resistance but as we saw last Sunday in France the Tigers’ triumvirate aren’t too shabby in that department and were quite magnificent at the breakdown against the aggressive Montpellier outfit. 

It seems odd to think that this is Steve Borthwick’s last season.  He seems to have been a constant in the Premiership, as indeed he almost has, making his first team debut for Bath just over fourteen years ago on 20^th November 1999 at the Recreation Ground in their Heineken Cup pool fixture with Toulouse. 

Still one of the best readers of the line out in the game he’s a player who Saracens will find hard to replace. 

South African Alastair Hargreaves is in his second season with Saracens having spent his time until then with Super 14 side; Sharks and has been in a job share with young George Kruis.  Just twenty-three the Redhill born Kruis has learnt his lineout craft at the feet of the master and adds some great carrying and defensive work to his impressive list of abilities, already a Saxon squad member he looks one for the full international scene in the not too distant future but I think it’ll be the South African clocking on next Sunday as Saracens’ rotation policy indicates 

Tigers obviously miss Geoff Parling but Graham Kitchener is a worthy replacement, although he’ll be embarrassed at being turned over by a winger last Sunday which, had it not been for Miles Benjamin’s express train covering back, would have led to a Montpellier try. 

I’d like to see Ed Slater, with his superior loose play, partnering Kitchener whose performance against fellow Saxon squad member Kruis would be an interesting sub plot. 

Neither team is often bested at the line out so honours look likely to be even at the set piece unless international absentee Steve Mafi were to reappear, although I sense he may stay down under with his new baby and family until after the Christmas holiday season  at least – we’ll see. 

Julian Salvi had another excellent match against Montpellier when in unison with Cole and Ayerza he turned over copious amounts of opposition ball. 

Jamie Gibson is coming to the game that we saw him have in the dysfunctional London Irish side so I expect to see him keep his spot in the absence of Mafi and indeed even if the big Tongan is restored to the English cold and wet pre-Christmas I think he can only seriously hope for a bench spot. 

Thomas Waldrom fully deserved his selection ahead of Crane bursting through the Montpellier defence and defending as if at Tobruk.  He gave way to Crane later following which a breakdown in communication saw Tigers’ resolute defence around the tackle area breached as Kitchener was left alone to defend the flank and the centre while Crane positioned himself wider out.  The old organisational problem briefly resurfacing after a better afternoon. 

In spite of Waldrom’s performance I have a feeling that Crane could get the start to aim to contain the threat of the home side’s #8. 

Tigers will have to be 100% accurate in this area with Burger likely to be on the open side for the home team now that the excellent Will Fraser is injured and of course the equally splendid Andy Saull is seeking fame and fortune with Newcastle.  Namibian Burger, while not a full blown scavenging open-side, won’t miss much and if there’s a chink in Tigers’ defence he’ll be through before you can say Cheetah. 

Jackson Wray looks likely to be on the blind side for Saracens bringing his rock solid defence and ball carrying to the breakdown while I expect that Joubert, so often Tigers’ nemesis, could be usurped by that force of nature that is Billy Vunipola who really distinguished himself in the Autumn internationals and will take all the stopping as he, like Crane, bustles along with opposition defenders swinging off him like giant Christmas decorations. 

Hard to call this area but once again Salvi may just turn the tide in favour of the visitors, especially if Ayerza, Tom Youngs and Cole provide seasonal merriment by ball stealing.  It was good to see Nigel Owens permit a contest to develop in this phase of play in Montpellier although I expect that now we’re back to the Ronnie Ronalde school of random refereeing normal Premiership service may be renewed. 

Ben Youngs looked back to form last Sunday,  his speed to the breakdown and accurate, fast service great to see.  His kicking went a little awry at times but generally very good and until Flood eventually went off with a problem gluteus maximus the Tigers’ international half back pairing went very well. 

 It was Ryan Lamb that replaced Flood and in essence turned the match for Tigers with a penalty that brought them back into contention. The ex Gloucester, London Irish and Northampton player often plays a buttock clenchingly loose game so the prospect of him playing alongside the equally loose Bowden, with whom too many of Tigers’ attacks foundered as his long passes were horribly inaccurate at times, would be likely to test the cardiac wellbeing of Tigers’ supporters and the one thing you can’t be against Saracens is loose or inaccurate. 

Flood won’t be either and will take up his usual position on the gain line. If it’s Lamb?  Who knows?  Probably not even him so everybody will be guessing! 

Ironically it was when Smith replaced Bowden and brought some structure to proceedings that Lamb calmed down and did the unexpected (for him) by playing a controlled style which helped to produce the final match winning try. 

McCall will choose from the sparky fourteen time capped Wigglesworth or the professorial deKock who has that ability to float above the match and strike when he sees an opportunity, also seeming to have the evil eye over Tigers I expect the experienced Springbok to start. 

I must admit to a strong, albeit manly, liking for Charlie Hodgson who I count as one of the most elegant and creative fly halves of his generation – and he can kick a bit as well.  I suspect though that Owen Farrell will start in the #10 shirt for Saracens and, with apologies to any Saracens’ supporter who stumbles upon this, I have to say that I believe that Farrell’s talents are rather wasted at fly half.  

He has all the credentials of a top class inside centre; great boot, immovable in defence and brave in taking the ball up when he so chooses, which in my view isn’t often enough. 

With the excellent Brad Barritt injured, Wyles, Bosch, Farrell and Scottish International; Duncan Taylor have all had a turn within the Saracens’ #12 shirt. Taylor, who made his international debut, starting twice for his country in their autumn international losses to South Africa and Australia, is the likely starter on Sunday.  He runs some lovely lines and is like Hadrian’s Wall defensively, without  the holes of course. 

He got a couple of tries against Zebre although it sounds as if by then the Italians had engaged reverse gear and acted as traffic cops as he sped through in a re-enactment of the Italian Job. He’s a decent sort is Taylor and will pounce on any slackness from Bowden or for that matter Goneva, who I expect will keep the #13 shirt for Tigers. 

Without the defensive services of Tompkins to call upon, McCall will probably deploy the dangerous ex Biarritz centre, the twenty-five time capped Argentinian international; Marcelo Bosch. 

Bosch looks to have formed a good partnership with Taylor in attack and defence and will largely handle any kicks that come his way with insouciant ease. The same can be said for Goneva so there could be some excitement if the ball finds its way out there. 

David Strettle looks set to be on the left wing for Saracens and Tigers will have to be very aware of the predatory winger who, if Benjamin continues to drift off station, will be through like a dose of salts.  Strettle for his part will need to stop the big, fast, improving Benjamin and Goneva – good luck  to all concerned! 

Chris Ashton has ended his try drought and would love to get more against his old adversaries from Leicester although these days there are no Tuilagis to spice things up for him, instead I hope he sees Adam Thompstone restored to ask some questions and that Niall Morris will be at fullback doing what he does best and where nowadays Hamilton’s solidity has be measured against his lack of pace. 

Alex Goode looks certain to be Saracens’ last line of defence, although personally I prefer Wyles as Goode is predictable when carrying the ball up and can be isolated if he’s caught early, so the Tigers’ backs will need to continue their new found enthusiasm for the chasing of high kicks. 

Saracens have what is a very settled back three capable of containing attackers and producing the trademark Saracens’ counter attack so Tigers will need to be laser precise. 

This is likely to be a tight one – in fact a gluteus maximus tensioning occasion as for once the two sides meet with only the vicissitudes of injury distorting matters. 

Too tight to call and probably just one score in it from the boot of Farrell/Hodgson or Flood/Lamb. 

It’ll not be friendly though – at least not on the pitch.

Saracens v Tigers Match Preview

Discussion started by TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk , 17/12/2013 21:35

TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk
17/12/2013 21:35

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:12:23:22:45:01 by Tiggs.

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Stopsy
18/12/2013 08:09

I believe Jacques Burger went under the knife for a minor op yesterday so will not be against us.

Many thanks Chris, may the Barnes be with us or at least not against us!

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S4llyC
18/12/2013 08:22

Another great appetiser - many thanks as ever, Chris. I feel we could just spring a surprise, but we'll have to be on top form for the full 80 to do it. Let's hope the spirit from Montpellier is carried through - without the brainfarts!

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saracens4life
19/12/2013 00:14

Thank you Chris for another fine piece of work

I love your description of De Kock, and you're bang on about Kruis and Taylor. Less sure about Farrell but that's been done before

And yes, Stopsy is right about Burger. Expect Kelly Brown to be at 7.

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maynas
19/12/2013 11:23

an MGB?? an Austin ? How long ago was this written?

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odd-shaped vagaries
19/12/2013 11:52

Forgiveness?

A welcome back into the fold?

Of course

True many of the innovations grate, some to the point of disgust, even abhorrence, which will see them damned for eternity, but if it's their round ...

Great as ever, the sainted Chris

'Lions led by donkeys' .. Lest we forget

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Rich W
19/12/2013 13:16

'Sainted' - that's a bit harsh!

Thanks as always Chris - another great piece - so good there's little to debate - though oddly enough after our discussions last week I'd probably stick with TTTE this week!

Ho hum!

Thanks as always my friend - wishing you and the lovely Mrs C a very happy Christmas.

...

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odd-shaped vagaries
19/12/2013 13:28

Harsh?

Shirley Knott

Is it not a compliment, especially given Chris is clearly a caring Christian who is, in this piece, calming troubled waters?

'Lions led by donkeys' .. Lest we forget

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ChrisC
20/12/2013 17:30

Quote:

RichW
Thanks as always my friend - wishing you and the lovely Mrs C a very happy Christmas

Thanks Rich and Helen and me send you our best for Christmas.

Quote:

OSV
.........in this piece, calming troubled waters?

Hard task though Rog., the camel Police can see slight and offence where none exists. Chief Constable Innings springs to mind.

Quote:

S4L
Most kind of you to say so. Thanks to you and all for their kind comments

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