Exeter Chiefs
Chiefs v Sarries Preview
round 5
By Black Otter
September 28 2011
Black Otter looks forward to the clash between 2nd and 3rd in the Premiership.
Exeter Chiefs v Saracens
Match Preview by Black Otter
On Saturday, we welcome last season's premiership champions, Saracens, to Sandy Park. Honours were evenly split last year with away wins for both sides - our triumph at Vicarage Road will be remembered for truly announcing Exe's intentions of staying in the top flight, and the return at SP sticks in the mind for the excellent attacking display from the visitors (and the friendliness of the visiting fans and their unique Gathering - no official Gathering this time, but expect a large travelling contingent of Fez-heads anyway).
After an opening round loss to Wasps as part of the London double header (15-20), Sarries have enjoyed three wins on the trot - away to Bath (28-26), at home to Wuss (18-6) and away to the Tigers at Welford Road (a scintillating 50-25 result in which Leicester were blown away).
Although missing more than a handful of players at the rugby world cup (the 8 absentees include Matt Stevens & Richard Wigglesworth with England, Jacques Burger with Namibia, and Kelly Brown with Scotland, for example) and through injury (Schalk Brits missed the Tigers game with a neck knock altho is likely to return against us), Sarries are still expected to field a strong line-up. Carlos Nieto's powerful presence will lock the scrummage, the boiler-room combination of England internationals Borthwick and Botha can be expected to heap pressure on the Chiefs' lineout, and Ernst Joubert is a wrecking ball of an 8. The experienced half-back combination of Neil de Kock and Charlie Hodgson is more than capable of controlling a game, and the centre combination of youngster, Owen Farrell, and Brad Barritt is both powerful and skillful. The dangerous back three of Strettle, Goode and Maddock all know their way across the whitewash.
Against Wasps, Sarries were dominant for much of the game, particularly in the set-piece, but committed far too many unforced errors which the pests were more than happy to capitalise upon. In a tight contest at the Rec, a last minute victory was sealed with Farrell's boot (one of 7 penalties), with James Short securing their only try. Tries came from Barritt and Goode in a comfortable win over Wuss at Vicarage Road, with Sarries forwards enjoying a dominant display in all aspects. Last weekend, in an adventurous attacking display, Sarries ran in 6 tries (Joubert x2, Hodgson, George, Barritt, and Farrell) courtesy of some generous Tigers' defending to inflict their heaviest ever premiership defeat on the Welford Road outfit.
Despite the youthfulness of the team (6 of the starting lineup that faced Leicester were under 24), it is the experienced spine of the Sarries team that makes them so dangerous. The Tigers' game aside, we can expect Sarries to go through the phases, waiting patiently for gaps to appear that their big ball carriers in the pack and midfield will seek to exploit, before pushing the ball wide to their speedsters. With Hodgson at the helm, coach Mark McCall will be no doubt looking for a controlled tactical game, and we should expect our lineout to be tested once again. Hopefully our defence will be more than up to the task, and despite a couple of injuries, Exe will continue to lay the myth of second-season syndrome to rest.
Oggy, oggy, oggy Chiefs, Chiefs, Chiefs!
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28/09/2011 20:04
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In the words of Bobby Robson 'we didn't underestimate them, they were just better than we thought they'd be!'
I'm sure you'll be a much sterner test than Leicester were.
Wouldn't be surprised if we see a large number of players rested, with others being given a chance to shine and keep some match fitness in their legs 
