From the defeat in High Wycombe we at least have the positive of scoring four tries, which suggests a case of “keep it up” for our attack, however, letting the European Champions score five themselves was proof that our defence still needs a lot of work.  Although we have only one of our first choice three quarter line, Michael Stephenson, in the side on Sunday, we must break down Saracens and score tries because we know it is likely we will concede.

 

Saracens, as I said, have also had a mixed start to the season.  They began with two tight victories over Wasps and Worcester before three defeats, but on Sunday managed an excellent three-try 23-12 home win over Northampton.  The Watford lads lie now in eighth place in the Premiership having secured only one bonus point to our two.

 

Like at Kingston Park, optimism was high at Vicarage Road at the start of the season that after years of failing to turn spending into success Saracens had finally recruited the players needed to push for the playoffs.  Players such as Dan Scarborough (Leeds), Iain Fullarton, Dan Harris, Alex Sanderson (all Sale) and our own Hugh Vyvyan made the move south, and Hugh was rewarded with the Fez captaincy.  These guys joined stars such as Richard Hill, Raphael Ibanez, Thomas Castaignede, Taine Randell in what on paper is one of the top 3-4 squads in the Premiership, however, the problem has always been getting the team playing together and successfully, with Saracens finishing second, third and fourth and fifth in the first four Premierships up to summer 2001, but since then tenth, eighth and tenth again last year.

 

Games against Saracens always seem to be big ones, I feel, because of the legacy of our two titanic battles in the 1997/98 in the final running for the first Premiership title.  Although Saracens won the second match 12-10 at Vicarage Road in front of 19,764 fans, a Premiership record which stood for over five years, we finished a point above them in the final table courtesy of a 30-25 triumph on a cold and atmospheric March Wednesday at Kingston Park a few weeks previously, a game which also saw the first league start of one Jonny Wilkinson.  Our team that night was Stuart Legg, Jim Naylor, Jonny Wilkinson, Alan Tait, Martin Shaw (Tim Stimpson), Rob Andrew, Gary Armstrong, Nick Popplewell, Ross Nesdale (Neil Frankland), Paul Van-Zandvliet, Garath Archer, Doddie Weir, Pat Lam, Richard Arnold (Peter Walton), Dean Ryan .  Newcastle scored three tries through Legg, Popplewell and Walton, with Andrew converting all three and adding three penalties.

 

And who could forget the fantastic 26-22 four-try victory over Sarries which secured our Premiership survival in May 2003?

 

Our previous meetings with Saracens are:

 

26/1/85       Bramley Road            John Player Cup 3^rd round      L13-16

12/12/87     Bramley Road            Courage League Division 2     D7-7

22/4/89       North Road                Courage League Division 2     L9-47

22/10/94     Kingston Park             Courage League Division 2     L11-17

15/4/95       Bramley Road            Courage League Division 2     D16-16

25/3/98       Kingston Park             Allied Dunbar Premiership 1   W30-25

19/4/98       Vicarage Road            Allied Dunbar Premiership 1    L10-12

31/10/98     Gateshead                  Allied Dunbar Premiership 1   W43-12

28/2/99       Kingston Park             Tetley’s Bitter Cup QF            W15-0

20/5/99       Vicarage Road             Allied Dunbar Premiership 1   L26-40

17/10/99     Vicarage Road             Allied Dunbar Premiership 1   L6-55

26/3/00       Kingston Park              Allied Dunbar Premiership 1   W15-6

26/11/00     Kingston Park              Zurich Premiership                 W32-27

15/4/01       Vicarage Road             Zurich Premiership                 L29-34

9/12/01       Vicarage Road             Zurich Premiership                 W24-19

5/5/02         Kingston Park              Zurich Premiership                 W47-18

24/11/02     Vicarage Road             Zurich Premiership                  L13-17

13/1/03       Vicarage Road             PP Challenge Cup QFL1          L10-31

19/1/03       Kingston Park              PP Challenge Cup QFL2          W31-29

4/5/03         Kingston Park              Zurich Premiership                 W26-22

14/9/03       Kingston Park              Zurich Premiership                  L20-25

22/2/04       Vicarage Road              Zurich Premiership                 L27-32

 

Total:    P22            W9            D2           L11          F460            A507

Home:  P11            W8            L0            L3            F279            A228

Away:    P11            W1            D2           L8            F181            A279

 

This Sunday Newcastle line up as follows:

15 David Walder

14 Matthew Tait

13 Matthew Burke

12 Epi Taione

11 Michael Stephenson

10c Jonny Wilkinson

9 Hall Charlton

1 James Isaacson

2 Andy Long

3 Micky Ward

4 Luke Gross

5 Stuart Grimes

6 Mike McCarthy

7 Ed Williamson

8 Colin Charvis

 

This team is clearly new, especially the back line, and could be an unqualified success or a disaster.  How Burke and Taione work, both together and as individuals, will be vital for us.  But since Saracens and we are similar teams and have similar records, I feel that our home advantage should see us through as it has so often before against Saracens.  35-18 to the Falcons.

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