By BrianC
January 25 2007

This Sunday afternoon we play yet another match in front of the TV cameras. On this occasion our opponents are Saracens who we play at Vicarage Road

Saracens have had a bright enough season thus far. Like us they have won six of their twelve games. Unlike us they have drawn one game and they have picked up no less that four try bonus points against our one. They currently sit two places and six points above us in the table. Saracens currently stand second after Leicester in terms of tries scored this season, we are bottom of the pack.

When we met Saracens earlier this season at the Madejski it was a high scoring affair. We won 36 - 24. The equivalent fixture at Vicarage Road last season was a less happy occasion for us. We were on the end of a 32 - 13 thumping.

Discipline is going to be crucial to us in this game. Glen Jackson is currently, by some way, the top points scorer in the premiership. He has thus far averaged 13 points per game and has a kicking average just over 84%. If we start giving away silly penalties we will almost certainly be punished.

As the six nations starts the following weekend we may very well take to the field without Catty or Shane. Saracens are certainly not fielding Andy Farrell.  

With the season now two thirds of the way through we sit in lower mid table. If we are to stand any chance of a top half finish we have to start a good run of games. At the risk of sounding a doom monger, should we lose this game HC qualification will be very unlikely.

Given home advantage and their superior league position the bookies will probably have Saracens as favourites. With our injury worries easing and signs that we are finding our form again we might be worth a punt.