The big prop leaves us after seven years on Tyneside, but this game is not one for sentiment. Our league season is rapidly disintegrating into mid-table obscurity again after just two wins in our last eight matches, despite our brilliance in the European Cup. Also disappointing domestically was the defeat at Saracens last weekend in the Powergen Cup. In a meeting of last season’s defeated semi-finalists, Leeds slaughtered Pertemps Bees 81-17 to set up a quarter final at Franklin’s Gardens. In Europe, Leeds are currently participating in the third-tier European Shield, and in the first round at the start of the month sent our old friends VRAC Valladolid packing 121-0 at Headingley and 53-11 in Spain. They will travel to Italy and face Padova in the quarter-finals.

So in the last three weeks the Yorkshire side haven’t really been tested, and we might find them a little rusty of big match practice if our luck is in. Their league form however suggests they are also in need of points to avoid getting sucked further into the relegation battle. Currently ninth on 20 points, six ahead of bottom side Northampton, the Tykes have lost their last three Premiership fixtures, most recently 28-30 at home to Bath and 31-17 at Harlequins.

Before that we hosted them in a derby between the country’s two northernmost professional clubs, and were victorious 29-14, despite missing Hall Charlton, Stuart Grimes and Colin Charvis through international commitments, and the injured Mark Mayerhofler, with help from a Matt Burke hat-trick. The bonus point was secured with a try from Jamie Noon, and fly-half David Walder converted three tries to add to his penalty. Our full record against Leeds, including their ancestors, Headingley and Roundhay is as follows:

As can be seen, we have an excellent record at Leeds, having won three and drawn one of our four trips to Headingley to play the Tykes. However, we have lost there twice in neutral European games: 12-17 to Harlequins in 2001 in a European Shield semi-final, and 15-17 to Leinster in a Heineken Cup pool match moved from Kingston Park in January 2002. Despite this, we have to go into Monday’s match with confidence against a side who were tipped by many for relegation at the start of the season. We must also be careful that we don’t get dragged down into the bottom regions of the Premiership too.

Against a side including Tom Palmer, Gordon Ross, Tim Stimpson and Iain Balshaw this won’t be easy, but we have a better squad, especially with Jonny Wilkinson’s recent return to action, and I expect us to continue our excellent record in Yorkshire. Let’s give Marius a good send-off. 16-34 to Newcastle.

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