How They Line Up
| 8 |
Saracens |
36 |
| 9 |
Newcastle Falcons |
35 |
| 10 |
Bath |
32 |
| 11 |
Bristol Shoguns |
32 |
| 12 |
London Irish |
31 |
On Sunday we entertain Saracens in our last home league game of the season.
So who's going to win on Sunday? Well I know what my heart says, but let's look at some facts. I'll start by comparing the recent form and results of both sides
Saracens come to this game having just beaten Bristol 17 - 16 on a miserable Tuesday night. Those four valuable points take them above Newcastle Falcons. The previous weekend they were involved in the semi-finals of Parker Pen Cup against Bath. They had won the first leg 38 - 30, but went down at the Rec 27 - 19 and with the aggregate scores level Bath went through on the number of tries scored.
In Saracens' previous league game back in early April they were beaten at home 12 - 14 by London Irish, and the game before that they went down at home 31 - 42 to London Wasps.
Meanwhile that same weekend Saracens lost to Wasps Newcastle Falcons started their mini revival with the excellent home win 24 - 22 against Leicester. Two weeks later we were unlucky to come away with only one point after another excellent display against Gloucester only going down in injury time 25 - 23. Then there was the last nail biting home game against Northampton were we came out 22 - 20 winners.
Falcons have picked up nine points (should have been 12) in their last three league outings, whereas Saracens have picked up five points in the last three league games.
Sarries have a team full of seasoned internationals, who for the last few seasons, as a team, have failed to live up to their reputations. We all know of the talents of the likes of Richard Hill, Kyran Bracken, Tim Horan and Abdel Benazzi, but on Tuesday night it was the England Sevens star Richard Haughton who caught the eye. Andy Goode showed the power of his boot although he did miss a couple of kicks at goal. The Saracens' lineout looked decidedly suspect on Tuesday and this could be a weakness we should exploit. So it remains to be seen what side Wayne Shelford starts with on Sunday, but no matter what side takes the pitch they will be up for it.
So to Falcons. We have had a week off since our victory over Northampton. We don't know what the starting line up will be as Rob always names a squad and doesn't name the starting 15 until shortly before the kick off. However hopefully Mark Andrews and Epi Taione will have recovered from their injuries and will be in the reckoning. It was good to see Dave Walder come on in the second half (did you hear the applause when he came on?). I do not think Walder is fully match fit so I think he will start again on the bench.
Let's hope the forwards can reproduce the form of late and get some decent ball for the backs who in the last few months have rediscovered the way to the line.
My starting line up would be:
Botham, May, Noon, Mayerhofler, Stephenson, Wilkinson, Grindal, Peel, Makin, Hurter, Grimes, Andrews, Taione, Mower, Vyvyan.
Bench
Ward, Thompson, Hamilton, Arnold, Charlton, Walder, Shaw
My Prediction
In a game that neither team dare loose I think we can expect an edgy start till the two sides settle down. The Saracens danger men for me are Bracken and Haughton, with the latter always keen to run at defences. However we also have one or two players in Noon (pictured) and Stephenson who can also break the oppositions' line. Tom May seems to have settled on the wing I hope Mark Andrews starts as he gives that little bit of steel and direction to the pack.
I expect that home advantage and a noisy home crowd will see Falcons open up later on in the game with the final score being 27 - 12 to Falcons and five valuable points which should see us safe.
Report Falcons v Saints: Falcons' Great Escape, Again!
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