Saracens
Preview - Sarries v Quins @Wembley
Is that a divot I see ...
By Haslam
April 14 2010
WEMBLEY PART IV: THE RETURN OF RUNNING RUGBY With the end of the season fast approaching, Saracens’ last scheduled home game invites Harlequins to the carnival. The fourth trip to Wembley this year aims to be our biggest yet with knights, the RAF central band, another £250,000 challenge and everyone’s favourite... Right Said Fred!
But it is the game which offers the real attraction and which will have to deliver if the Wembley experiment is to be a success. Luckily, both Saracens and Harlequins have recently rediscovered running rugby. Saracens have now scored 13 tries in their last 3 matches, while Quins have managed 9 in the same period. Whether this outbreak of optimism has been caused by tweaking the breakdown laws or simply a touch of sun; we all stand to benefit.
The return fixture earlier this year was in sharp contrast to the recent positivity, Sarries running out 9-22 winners after kicking the Quins’ team senseless. That day saw a well worked Kameli Ratuvou try backed up ruthless defence and 17 points from the boot of Derick Hougaard. His haul including a superb drop goal from the half-way line, at the time it even seemed novel! The match exemplified Saracens’ early-season style of positional kicking followed up with strong chasing, a game plan designed to expose step-in full back Ugo Monye. Harlequins, having already lost their first two games, had no answer to Saracens’ rather limited tactics and were bludgeoned into submission.
The year before saw Quins do the double over Saracens at both the big and little stoop. The opener at Twickenham saw tries from Adam Powell and Neil de Kock cancelled out by strikes from David Strettle and Ugo Monye. Quins finished 21-24 winners in a stop-start game that was the first for both sides under the dreaded ELVs (remember them?).
The other meeting last season followed the announcement that Saracens were to lose 15 players from their squad. Two penalties from Nick Evans providing the difference between the teams at 21-15. Sniping runs from Danny Care led to both Quins’ tries while Saracens replied with tries from Richard Haughton and Wickus van Heerden. However, the highlight of the match for Saracens was surely Eddie Jones’ explanation of the team’s performance:
"This week was always going to be much harder than last week. You know, you lose your girlfriend and go out and have a drink and for the next 48 hours you are all right. Then you go home and your girlfriend's not there and that's when it starts to sink in."
The form for both sides has reversed from last year. With Saracens currently occupying third place in the table and looking to book a place in the play-offs for the first time since 2006-07. Recent wins at home over Newcastle and away at Sale, with a close loss away to Gloucester in between, show Saracens starting to return to their form of the beginning of the season.
Harlequins, on the other hand, will need to overcome Bath or Wasps in order to book a place in the top 6 and an automatic place in the Heineken Cup next year. All their GP games in 2010 have gone the way of the home side with the high a 46-11 win over Leeds and the low a 46-6 loss to Gloucester.
Logistics wise, Wembley isn’t as easy to get to as it could be. However, TfL have shined a light of happiness on us and both the Bakerloo and Jubilee Line are running fine on Saturday as is the Metropolitan line (except between Baker Street and Aldgate). As an added bonus, London Overground (both Euston - Watford and Richmond - Stratford) is OK. Probably the best links we could hope for, you’d think there must be an election on! For those aiming to miss the pre-game festivities most seem to be doing their pre-game drinking at the Green Man which has a large beer garden if the weather is nice.
Otherwise, there is the usual list of prohibited items for the stadium on your ticket (no beach balls I’m afraid). The only one likely to have an effect is no bottles with lids; there should be cups available though.
For the teams I expect the good doctor will introduce a touch of rotation with an eye on building to the final matches. So I reckon we’ll see a side of:
15 Alex Goode
14 Michael Tagicakibau
13 Kameli Ratuvou
12 Brad Barritt
11 Chris Wyles
10 Glen Jackson
9 Neil de Kock
1 Matias Aguero
2 Schalk Brits
3 Petrus du Plessis
4 Hugh Vyvyan
5 Mouritz Botha
6 Jacques Burger
7 Andy Saull
8 Ernst Joubert
Although many of these positions have incredibly able back-ups, giving Brendan Venter a nice selection headache.
For Harlequins, I’d expect a similar one to last week as no-one appeared to get injured:
15 Mike Brown
14 David Strettle
13 George Lowe
12 Jordan Turner-Hall
11 Tom Williams
10 Nick Evans
9 Danny Care
1 Ceri Jones
2 Tani Fuga
3 John Andress
4 James Percival
5 George Robson
6 Tom Guest
7 Will Skinner
8 Nick Easter
For Saracens a win will rely on our attack continuing to show the same precision as in recent weeks while re-building the brick wall defence that served us so well in 2009. We cannot afford to let their back three run at us all day with the talent they have at their disposal. Strettle in particular stood out last weekend and while that’s good news for Saracens in the long term, perhaps we should hope he has an off day?
There are 3 key match-ups I’ll be watching. Barritt/Turner-Hall as the battle of the future England centres, Joubert/Easter for the ferocity both always play with and Wyles/Strettle for its effect on the Saracens line-up next season.
The MET office is offering 16 degrees and a touch of sun, so providing the turf stays put (see endless discussions elsewhere) it could be a dream-rugby day! I’m going to forecast a close but high-scoring match with the home team to carry the day.
What do you know, a whole preview on Quins and no mention of B…
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Stumbleupon14/04/2010 15:25
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2010:04:22:09:54:18 by TonyTaff.
Thanks TT
{A BIG Edit} An a BIG Thanks to Haslam
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:04:14:16:08:19 by Kat.
You can't get the staff ...
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
Good preview.
Great preview, should be a great game.....
SUPPORT Help for Heroes:
Help for Heroes
In their only other match at a neutral venue (Twickers) they've lost.
If I remember correctly they held the Pests well for the first 60 minutes even with a man less.
I think it could go either way but I just hope both teams play to their full potential and we will have a cracking game.
Must say Schalk Britz is the benchmark in the premiership IMO.
O Fortuna, velut luna statu variabilis,
semper crescis aut decrescis
Good preview - can't wait.
The game's afoot;
Follow your spirit: and upon this charge,
Cry — God for Harry! England and Saint George
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