By The Saracens
June 10 2021

The next 10 days are probably the most important period in our club’s history. If it all goes wrong this could be it. We face a 2 legged playoff against Ealing Trailfinders for the right to gain promotion to the Premiership (or at least we think so!). With all our Internationals available, logic says there is only 1 outcome. If only it were that simple! I really hope and pray that the winner of the Championship can be sorted out as it should be. The best 2 teams going head to head on the field. The team that scores the most points wins and gets promoted! But we all know that our biggest opponents are likely to be far more slippery and unpredictable than the splendid Ealing Trailfinders.

The big unknown is COVID. I have no doubt that our boys are under strict instructions to stay safe in the lead up to the game. But what happens if an Ealing player, or coach, or physio or partner or programme seller tests positive? That is all that certain factions would need to void the 2 games and promote Ealing. Call me paranoid but after the bizarre decision around the Hartpury game we should expect no favours from anyone! Quite the contrary. 

So let’s pretend that what happens on the pitch actually matters? This Sunday sees the first leg with Ealing having home advantage. ETF of course hold a 2-1 lead over Sarries but I suspect no one in Ealing is under any illusion that the status quo will be maintained. To Sarries this game is probably their biggest ever match. Bigger than 4 European finals. Bigger than 7 Premiership finals. Bigger than the Tetley Cup win. Bigger even than that win over Sale in 2004 which secured our Premiership status. Sarries will field their strongest possible team, virtually an all international team, a team which on its day could beat anyone in the world. 

Let’s think about it. A front row of Mako, Jamie and Vincent. A second row of Maro and Tim Swinson, and a back row of Rhodes (is he fit?) Jackson and Billy (OK Jackson isn’t an international but he should be). Aled Davies and Faz controlling things at half back. Nick and Duncan in the centres. Sean and Elliott on the wings and Goodey back at 15. 

We have the luxury of Wayne Barnes in charge AND, god forbid, a TMO! Some have suggested he is past his whistling prime but I am more than content to see him. A win on Sunday should hopefully be the prelude to a victory parade on the 20th. No I’m not counting chickens or tempting fate, just being pragmatic. Ealing are a good team. Mark McCall has said they could hold their own in the Premiership. I have a lot of sympathy for them. In many ways they are as much the victims of all this as Sarries. Had Leicester been relegated last season instead, you would really fancy ETF to have taken their place this time. Let’s hope PRU and RFU see some sense (did I really write that) and allow a 14 team Premiership to include both clubs. 

Good luck to both teams over the next 2 weekends. Thank goodness some of us can be there in person to cheer the lads on. Stay COVID free everyone and let’s get this decided where it should be. On the field of play.

THEY DON'T COME MUCH BIGGER THAN THIS!

Discussion started by TheSaracens.com , 10/06/2021 17:23

TheSaracens.com
10/06/2021 17:23

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:06:17:16:29:18 by Darraghgirl.

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HappySaracen
10/06/2021 19:01

Great preview.

I have everything crossed that these games are decided on the field.

I feel very confident in the team but the magnitude of the consequences of failure obviously add an extra element.

Whatever happens the way the team have performed over the past two seasons; coping with the focus switching between Premiership and Champions Cup as Laws were changed, giving their all in the narrow loss to Racing and using the full depth of the squad and never chucking the towel even when there was nothing to play for in the Premiership. The loyalty shown by the squad has been really heartening and those who have gone on loan have been a huge credit to Saracens.

Ealing, Gooley and Ward have shown the strength, ambition and commitment thats in the Championship and all the teams we've played have been a credit to the league as have their supporters.

COYSaracens for Sunday.

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HappySaracen
11/06/2021 20:31

LI with some positive tests, Bristol/LI game up in the air ... uh-oh.

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tpr's headmistress
11/06/2021 21:23

Perhaps they need to 'bubble' the boys for 10 days to avoid contamination.

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HappySaracen
12/06/2021 09:19

Bristol/LI game cancelled.

Tony Rowe PRL to decide points distribution

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jonnybrowne
12/06/2021 20:01

Great preview of the game!

Iit's hard not to be a little apprehensive about what's going to transpire over the next eight days in terms of Covid (and barring a last minute decision by the Premiership to bar any club whose name begins with an S from playing in the competition) but that aside we're so close now, and assuming both matches take place even I'm confident that Sarries will win both games.

I mean no disrespect to Trailfinders when I say that I agree with others that they're already a mid-Premiership-standard outfit and would certainly give the bottom six a very serious run for their money but Sarries remain a level or two better than that, with the quality and experience of our starting XV and the stength of the bench .

The pace of Roti and Ton Whiteley could be very telling in the latter stages and unless Dom Morris is injured I'd guess it was a call between him and Super Dunc and it's probably the right one for a game like this.

Speaking of benches, I agree that Wayne Barnes being appointed to ref the first leg (who's doing the second?), and the decision to use TMO could well be factors.

I'm going for a 15-point win for Sarries in the first leg, possibly after a torrid first half an hour, and a bigger margin at StoneX.

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AP
13/06/2021 10:06

It will be vital to get a win today, just in case the second leg doesn't happen.

Successful hills are here to stay
Everything must be this way
Gentle streets where people play
Welcome to the Soft Parade

🌻🌻🌻

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HappySaracen
13/06/2021 13:11

Quote:

AP
It will be vital to get a win today, just in case the second leg doesn't happen.

100% this ^

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