HARD TO BEAT


By Behind the Bench
December 30 2015

Saracens vs Leicester: Hard to Beat Aviva Premiership Rugby Saturday 2 January Allianz Park   In what is undoubtedly Saracens' test of the season so far, just like last week, Leicester arrive at Copthall with ten wins from eleven in the Premiership and Europe, the only blemish being a loss at Exeter, as the Tigers have assumed a dominant position in their European Champions Cup pool and don't have to make up ground 

An interesting week so far, in which everyone seems to have a tactical opinion about Saracens' style. Back in 2009/10, the "boring" tag would probably have been justified for much of the campaign, but proved enough to reach the Premiership final and almost win it. Fast forward six seasons, and what we have is adaptability, where Sarries take on all comers and beat them, in contrasting styles, whether it is a free-flowing style as against Worcester or Oyonnax, or something tighter as at Coventry. This even comes down to individual players, with the likes of Owen Farrell able to adapt between orchestrating an expansive game, and a match such as Sunday, yet still have the opportunity to score a try. Whether or not Saracens have the best squad in the league, the crucial factor is to anticipate a chance, and this was the decisive factor on Sunday, when a fine move kept the ball alive rather than kicking it away, and, for the second try, thinking and reacting more quickly than the opposition; it's no surprise that this cohesion sees their record in the big games outstanding, with just one big prize ready to be claimed. 
 
Leicester Tigers are a side who are no strangers to having their entertainment value questioned, and, although last weekend's stuttering 22-10 home win over Newcastle Falcons wasn't the best demonstration of it entirely, their backline is more potent than in previous seasons, and, added to their customary defensive strength, makes them even more of a serious proposition this season. The Falcons game saw them miss out on a bonus point, but the intent was clear as they made more than double the distance and almost twice as many passes as Newcastle, with Mathew Tait at full back and winger Telusa Veaina making individual gains of over 100 metres. For all that, the fine win in Limerick against Munster where the Tigers reprised their 2007 success at Thomond Park with a 31-19 win was down to their alertness, a quick wide pass to Vereniki Goneva and capitalising on a horrendous mix-up in a home line out through Mike Fitzgerald's close range effort to make it 18-6 at half time, and despite the home side enjoying the majority of possession and territory, they couldn't even force a losing bonus point as Leicester won a series of vital turnovers - so another fascinating back row battle appears in prospect.
 
Close season squad activity saw the departures of Geoff Parling and Julian Salvi, both to Exeter Chiefs, and Jamie Gibson to Northampton Saints. Arriving at Welford Road were Exeter front row Greg Bateman, London Welsh forward Opeti Fonua, Worcester Warriors second row Mike Williams, alongside fellow locks Michael Fizgerald from Chiefs and Dominic Barrow of Newcastle, flanker Brendon O'Connor from Blues and London Welsh back row Lachlan McCaffret, scrum half Jon Kitto from Chiefs, full back Peter Betham from Waratahs. With the campaign underway, the Tigers reinforced their squad further as Italian loosehead prop Matias Aguero moved from Zebre, Tongan winger Telusa Veainu arrived from Melbourne Rebels and former South African captain Jean de Villiers, joined from Stormers at centre, although the latter's debut for the club is awaited but could be this Saturday as an outside bet. Local media in Leicester suggests otherwise, though. 
 
After decent showings in the Kings of the North pre-season tournament against Newcastle and Sale, the Premiership campaign got underway with a 28-16 victory at London Irish, where Betham scored a debut try, and seven penalties from Tommy Bell underlined the embarassment of riches at fly half with Freddie Burns and Owen Williams also playing their part this season. Bell claimed five more in the 22-19 home win over Harlequins, as some promising attacking moves went uncapitalised, and a Laurence Pearce try from a drive near the end proved decisive. Back at Welford Road, the "new" derby with Wasps was won 24-16 with a try apiece for Goneva and Veainu, ahead of the solitary defeat so far, 19-6 at Exeter. However, they got their European campaign off to the perfect start with a 33-20 bonus point home win over Stade Francais Paris, as fine back play yielded scores for Goneva, Matt Smith, O'Connor and Ben Youngs, and it was ten points from ten available as a comfortable 36-3 win was taken at Benetton Treviso, as a penalty try was added to a double by Veainu from full back and a further effort from Betham. Back in the Premiership, a superb intercept by Veainu and a rare Dan Cole try earnt a 21-11 home win over Bath. On the road at Worcester, the Tigers enjoyed their best ever comeback in a 29-20 bonus point win after trailing 17-0 in the first half, recovering with yet another try from Veainu, a penalty try, and other scores from Graham Kitchener and McCaffrey. That led into the double success against Munster and the win against Newcastle. 
 
Line ups will clearly be close to full strength, so Alex Goode should remain at full back. Chris Ashton looks likely to keep his right wing berth, although Mike Ellery might come in for Chris Wyles on the left, with Duncan Taylor swapped for Marcelo Bosch in the centre alongside Brad Barritt, and a continued combination of Owen Farrell and Richard Wigglesworth at half back. Into the forwards, and Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and Petrus du Plessis could form the front row, with George Kruis and Maro Itoje forming the second row and a back row comprising of Jackson Wray, Jacques Burger and Billy Vunipola. For the Tigers, the line up should be similar to the Munster home game, with Veainu at full back, and Adam Thompstone with Goneva on the wings, outside a centre combination of Peter Betham and Matt Smith. Burns and Ben Youngs should feature at half back, with a front row of Marcos Ayerza, Tom Youngs and Cole, and Kitchener and Fizgerald resiming their second row partnership and a back row of Ed Slater, O'Connor and McCaffrey. 
 
So, two well-matched sides, and probably not a repeat of the 49-10 home win just over two years ago - watched by 9,999 (OK, who didn't turn up?). But that's just my view, it would be boring if we all agreed...

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HARD TO BEAT
Discussion started by TheSaracens.com , 30/12/2015 18:06
TheSaracens.com
30/12/2015 18:06
Thanks Gerard



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2016:01:04:22:07:39 by Darraghgirl.

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Stopsy
30/12/2015 18:28
Many thanks, let's hope the game is as good as the previews.

Just for info it was Pearce rather than Fitzgerald who scored.

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Duncan Keene
30/12/2015 23:29
Thanks. Great read.

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PrestonTiger
31/12/2015 13:45
Thanks. Nice preview.

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