By apb
September 8 2005

The Tykes visit Watford for the match against Saracens on Sunday, fully aware that the realities of Premiership rugby exposes any reliance they might have had on big name signings.

If any of us really thought that Gordon Bulloch and Justin Marshall were the answer to any rugby question you'd care to put, we had it pummelled out of us last week.

Neither Saracens nor Leeds Tykes covered themselves in glory during the Double Header. I am ill qualified to comment, not having been there, but sources suggest that of the four teams on show that day, London Irish were by far the most proficient, which surprised just about everybody, and gave Leeds the shock of their lives. Saracens, like Leeds, lost, and will be seeking to kick-start their season a week later than anticipated. Leeds, however, will be seeking to get any kind of start, after that appalling showing at HQ. Last week's performance was a horrible memory of times past, where the team were poor in all aspects of the game. Lets hope this week is immeasurably better.

Big Name Signings

In previous years, it was Saracens that made the high profile signings. Saracens were the club you went to if you were a highly rated rugby talent that was in the papers at the time. Saracens, it seemed, had everything. Money, status, training facilities, proximity to London. And thus, very many of the high profile players came to the land of the Fez, confident they would make a difference to one of the Premiership's more famous and fashionable clubs. For many a year this attitude prevailed, and for many a year - and for reasons no-one can quite fathom - Saracens as a club and a team failed to deliver the goods.

This year, the roles are somewhat different. Saracens have made very few top signings (I'm struggling to think of one of this year's influx that made the rugby headlines), but it is the first full season in which Steve Diamond, late of Sale, will be in total charge. This year we will see two ex-Tykes take the field against us, with Dan Scarborough, now well established as a second-year in the Saracens camp, and new boy Alan Dickens.

Two Former Tykes on Show

Those of you with memories better than that of a goldfish will remember Dicko signed for Tykes on a three-month contract as cover for Scott Benton who was injured at the start of that particular season. In the years that followed, Dicko remained with the squad and successfully saw off challenges by new and exciting young scrum-halves, and cemented his place as the first choice for the Tykes, and culminating in his final year with a Powergen Cup winners' medal. The impending arrival of Justin Marshall, however, even stepped on Dicko's confidence and he signed for Saracens.

But guess what? He's only gone and done it there as well! In the squad named for Sunday's game, there he is, proud as punch as the first choice scrum-half, beating Kyran Bracken back to the bench. Alan Dickens is one of those players who is easy to underestimate, and you do so at your peril. He'll be a man to watch come Sunday.

And what of young Mr. Scarborough? He's not had the brightest of times at Sarries so far. Out with injury for a goodly part of last season, he was pretty much a bit-part player in the Saracens mid-table adventure last year, but will be back fighting fit and raring to have a go at his old team in his new home. Tykes, of course, know all about his full-back play, and would perhaps look to experiment with a few testing high balls early on in the game.

Tykes Team - Speculation

Leeds Tykes are still suffering a couple of injuries, with Chris Bell out of the side for a couple of months, and TykesRugby.co.uk's Rayno Gerber out of action for a couple more weeks. Mike Shelley should soon be fit which will add a leadership boost to the players on the field, but the perennial problem of the Leeds centre partnership still dogs the team, with no obvious answers to be found. Roland de Marigny had a pretty ordinary game last week at inside centre, and will do well to be given the chance in that position again. If he is, he really must grasp his opportunities and raise his game. Expect to see Iain Balshaw in his customary full-back role, (those uncharitable souls among you will be amazed to see him start two games in a row), and in fact, the rest of last Saturday's team will be most likely be given a run out again, no doubt with Phil Davies' "disappointment" at last weeks result ringing in their ears.

This has always been a difficult fixture for the Tykes, but they need a good result, and a better performance, to kick-start the season and generate a bumper crowd for the following weeks' first proper home game.

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