By BrianC
May 5 2004

With a long overdue and much needed victory over Newcastle last weekend under our belts, we now go into the last ZP game of the season at home to Saracens with some interest. This being the chance to make it to the wild card play offs where there is a further chance to qualify for the Heineken Cup.

London Irish vs Saracens, MadejskiStadium, Saturday 8th May, 15:00

In order to make the wild card play offs we need to finish at least seventh. We currently sit eight in the table and need, as well as being victorious ourselves, to see one of the two clubs above us, Sale or Leicester slip up. Both these teams are playing away next Saturday. Sale are at Leeds where, whilst the Yorkshire club are no pushovers, they will go in as favorites. Leicester face a tricky away match at Wasps who are currently second by one point to Bath in the race for the premiership title. Whilst the Tigers side has improved greatly in the second half of this season Wasps have at times looked awesome and must be favorites to win this. There is also an outside chance that Harlequins could come into the frame. They are five points ahead of us but have a tough away match at Northampton. We could of course only catch them if we secured a bonus point and they failed to do so.

Our opponents on Saturday have had a poor season including a 31 - 34 home defeat to us back in November. They currently sit 11th in the table on 35 points and must be relieved that Rotherham have struggled so much this season. They have little left this term but pride left to play for, this in its own right could make them more dangerous to us than they have proved to other opponents this season. One added point of interest for us is that we should get a chance to see one of our new signings for next season, Robbie Russell currently the Saracens hooker.

We will go into this match as favorites. Hopefully with confidence boosted from last weekends victory and a bit of fire in our bellies as we strive for the wild card place this favoritism is not misplaced. Wouldn't it be good if we could put on a performance as good as the one we saw on the last day of the 2002/3 season? 

Whatever happens on the pitch it looks set to be a long and enjoyable one off it.. Things get underway with a party in the hotel car park prior to the game where gentlemen are requested to dress in shorts. Sandals with socks and leg warmers are optional. After the post match Craic many of us will be repairing to the Allied Arms where the Gagging Ferrets will be playing long into the night.