By The Saracens
September 29 2021

After a week’s break, it’s business as usual as Sarries take on Leicester Tigers on Saturday. After 2 weeks, this is already proving to be a topsy-turvey season. Tigers sit proudly at the top of the table alongside last year’s champions Harlequins, both with maximum points while Exeter and Bristol languish at the bottom. Sarries are midtable but with a game in hand over everyone but Wasps.

Looking at the Tigers’ squad, Borthwick has managed to weed out many of the old stagers who weren’t pulling their weight and in their stead has brought through some promising talent from the Academy. Ben White, Johnny McPhillips, Darryl Marfo, Sam Lewis, Tomas Lavanini, Zac Henry, Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Jordan Coghlan, Luan de Bruin & Ryan Bower have departed for pastures new and in have come Freddie Burns (Fly Half), Bryce Hegarty (fly half/full back), Eli Snyman (2^nd Row), Marco van Staden (Flanker), Francois Van Wyk (Prop) Tom Cowan-Dickie (hooker) and our own Juan Pablo Socino (Centre). Academy graduates include Lewis Chessum (2^nd row), Jacob Cusick (back), Tim Hoyt & Seb Smith (both front row). They join Will Hurd, Nic Dolly & Julian Montoya (who joined during the 20/21 season) along with Jordan Olowfela and George Worth who return from a season long loan. The influence of Richard Wigglesworth is evident in the development of Tigers exciting young scrum half Jack Von Poortvliet.  Tigers of course retained many of their big names: George Ford, (a rejuvenated) Dan Cole, Ellis Genge, Tom & Ben Youngs and Nemani Nadolo (not to mention the input of one Richard Wigglesworth)

Tigers have had a dream start to the season. Under new boss Steve Borthwick they seem to have found themselves again after a couple of years in the wilderness. They set off with a magnificent victory over Exeter scoring 5 tries in the process, including a magical start from Harry Potter (sorry) the dual qualified anglo-aussie wing and a brace from hooker Nic Dolly. Their second fixture was possibly an even better performance – a bonus point win over Gloucester down at Castle Grim (never easy) with more tries for Dolly & Potter and by all accounts an excellent performance from George Ford (after his snub by Eddie). Borthwick has however commented on the need for discipline and the need to take the chances that are offered (sounds a bit like Sarries doesn’t it!)

I assume Borthers will be reluctant to change much of his team. He has played virtually the same 15 in Tigers’ 2 games so far. The Youngs’ boys may be absent: Tom has thus far been unavailable and Ben pulled out of the England training squad with a niggle (although young Van Poortvliet has proved a very capable deputy - one last hurrah for Wiggy maybe??), and Montoya is with the Pumas so probably something like:

Steward, Potter, Scott, Kelly, Nadolo, Ford, Youngs/Van Poortvliet, Genge, Dolly, Cole, Wells, Snyman, Martin, Reffell, Liebenberg

Mark McCall also has a dilemma on his hands – do you change a winning team? Max Malins came through 80 minutes during Storm’s victory over Ealing last Friday and is likely to start. If Goodey and/or Maitland are fit I would start them too. This new Leicester at Welford Road will provide strong opposition. There are also rumours that Jamie George may be allowed to start given he missed out on all 3 tests. If true that would be a huge gain. So (assuming availability) I would go with:-

Malins, Maitland, Morris/Lozowski, Tompkins, Lewington, Goode/Lozowski, Davies; Adams-Hale, George/Woolstencroft, Riccioni, Swinson, Isiekwe, Wray, Earl, B Vunipola.

But what do I know! We are in the hands of Mr Ridley: apart from one horror story he’s usually quite sound. Mr DG and I will be away in the sun so cheer the lads on, on my behalf.