By Jason Harris
May 13 2002

Saracens' prospective new coach Wayne Shelford has stated categorically what the side has to do next season in order to get back to the right end of the Zurich Premiership table. After defeat to Bristol in the final game of a very disappointing league campaign, the former All Black didn't mince his words when it came to his thoughts on the current Sarries side.

"The first thing" he said " is to teach them to catch and pass." Straight talking indeed and he added "It's the nuts and bolts of the sport and they must have put a dozen passes down. Still, that's a dozen less than last week."

Though the finishing touches are to be put on his contract with the Men in Black in the coming weeks, Shelford has already targeted discipline as the commodity that will put the side back into Heineken Cup contention in season 2002-03. Discipline.

"If they are not disciplined enough to learn, they won't be playing here. Some of the older ones might be hanging up their Saracens badges very soon." he said of the playing staff.

Buck, as he is known all over the world, reckons that it's not all bad news.

"They've been on the slide since they won the Cup, year-in, year-out, but they have the potential to make it back to the top six immediately."

All that needs to be done now is to change those "they've"s into "we've"s and then Sarries can get down to the business of restoring much needed pride and a smile back onto the face of club owner Nigel Wray.