By Japie
September 14 2006

No Jonny (to the upset of many a fan and our marketing staff), but it seems increasingly possible that crowd numbers, and media attention, might get a huge boost if this game marks the long-awaited Guinness Premiership debut of Andy Farrell.

Having been persuaded over a year ago to jump from superstar status in Rugby League into an unknown Union future, Farrell has endured a frustrating time recovering from injury after injury.  New Saracens Director of Rugby Alan Gaffney has followed last season’s consultant coach Eddie Jones’s recommendation that Farrell’s immediate Union future lies in the back row rather than the backs.  His Union debut finally came last Monday night in a try-scoring flanker performance for the A team against Harlequins A.  Now Farrell looks set for his full first team debut either replacing Paul Gustard in the starting XV, or more likely beginning the game on the bench.   Fans, England selectors and media alike are likely to pay keen attention to the squad announcement on Thursday.

 

Hopefully Farrell will bring more than crowds to Vicarage Road: inspiring a first win of the season would be even more valuable.  After the Twickenham “home” defeat to Wasps and last weekend’s drab draw against Bristol, Saracens are tenth in the table.  Panic not, it’s early days, but a win would obviously rally the team before the “where will a win come from” doomsayers in the media (and on the website) begin casting a grim eye over Sarries’ chances.  The Saracens team is unlikely to be changed much from that picked for the opening two games, with Castaignede still, it seems, some weeks away from full recovery.  However the Fijian fullback and centre Kameli Ratuvou has impressed for the A team and may force a change somewhere in the backs or the bench line-up.

 

Newcastle have had a mixed start with a narrow defeat (Jonny missed a late penalty that could have won it) to Northampton Saints being followed by a similarly narrow win over Worcester (a late try capping off an apparently enthralling comeback).  With Rob Andrew heading off over the summer to his new Űber-supremo role at the RFU, Newcastle sought to promote from within.  New Director of Rugby John Fletcher was elevated from being their Academy Manager.  Given the performances of some of the talent that has recently emerged from his Academy sides, such as Toby Flood and Mathew Tait, he appears to know how to develop and nurture players.  Hopefully in his new job he can discover the secret to keeping the unfortunate Wilkinson on the pitch and away from the treatment room.  Without him, Newcastle are likely to be a slightly blunter attack.  However backs like captain and former Australia international star Matt Burke, England international centre Jamie Noon, England A winger Tom May and new star Flood are always likely to create chances.  If Sarries’ handling errors against Bristol are repeated, the Falcons are sure to swoop and punish them. England international Tait injured his knee during kicking practice in the summer and required an operation.  Like Sarries’ Richard Hill, he is likely to return in October, hopefully in time to challenge to play in the Autumn internationals.  Tait and Wilkinson’s injuries only serve to highlight the surprising decision to dump the versatile Dave Walder in the summer.  The Falcons’ forwards are a less obviously impressive unit than their backs, but talented props Robbie Morris and Micky Ward will not give ground easily to Saracens’ front row.  Former Falcon Hugh Vyvyan is also likely to get some special attention from his friends in the north.

 

Predictions?  A narrow win for Saracens, a losing bonus point for Falcons, and probably a couple of props in the sin-bin at some point!