By Gryff
November 23 2006

This Sunday, at 2pm to fit into Sky Sports viewing, Sarries meet Worcester Warriors in Round 9 of the Guinness Premiership an important match for both clubs and the last GP match for a while with the EDF and European competitions returning. Dealing with the Warriors first it has been a dreadful start to the season for them having lost all their matches. There have however been a number of close games against Falcons, Bath and Saints from which they have gained losing bonus points. They haven’t had a try bonus point all season and are in fact the Premierships lowest scorers with 123 scored. They also have the second worst points against record (Bath the worse) with 219 conceded. They have only scored 12 tries in the 8 matches to date.

Sarries come into the match having won 5 of their last 6 games and being the GP’s highest scorers with 226 points for, including 23 tries (only surpassed by the Pests). They are sitting in 6th place 7 points ahead of Quins and with 4 of the top 5 playing each other this weekend are ideally placed to consolidate their place in the top half and possibly move up the placings. In the GP Sarries have won 4, drawn 1 and picked up 1 losing bonus point and 3 bonus points for scoring 4 tries. Sarries best performances have been against the teams below them at Saints last weekend and against Bath and Falcons previously.

Both sides are missing players with the Warriors probably worse off missing Pat Sanderson, Tevita Taumoepeau, Aleki Lutui and Miguel Avramovic to international calls compared to Sarries Simon Raiwalui, Kameli Ratuvou and Mosese Rauluni.

Of their 5 previous matches in the GP Saracens have won 4 losing the now infamous match at Sixways in September 2005 a game notable for yellow cards, handbags, penalty tries and the last minute Tony Windo score. The men in Black comfortably won the rematch last season 29 – 15 with a try bonus.

So a walk in the park for Sarries with a 5 point haul? Certainly not! Any team on a losing streak will be trying that much harder to turn it around and any mistake or complacency will be leapt on. In Shane Drahm the Warriors have a player who can punish any Sarrie’s infringements and carelessness. The Warriors will be further motivated by the sacking of their head Coach Anthony Eddy though the DoR John Brain remains. Such events have a particular Men in Black flavour about them as followers of our revolving door policy for coaches will recognize. Mr Duckworth the Warriors owner has stated that they will go back to their previous successful, if limited game plan of a forward dominated tight game. This may clear up the confusion that had arisen from trying to implement Eddy’s more expansive game plan which has actually seen a run of bad results since last December following a successful first half to last season. In addition the Warriors team have almost been given a conscience free match this weekend with CD stating that the rebuilding would start after the Sarries match with the EDF and Europe used to get a winning formula back. So nothing to lose everything to gain!

The Men in Black’s problems are of a more unusual, for us, nature. Firstly they must avoid any complacency which I am sure Gaffer won’t allow. They must stop this tendency to start slowly as any points given away at the start of the game would surely give the Warriors heart. In fact Sarries should endeavour to start strongly collect some points and take the wind out of the undoubted storm that will be thrown at them.

Sarries second problem is selection!! Who to pick or who to leave out with effectively only Ben Broster and the Pacific Islanders unavailable. I would assume that last weeks winning team are in pole position but even so there are a number of possible changes, will Fullers come in to shore up the line out, will Ben Johnston replace Faz or join him at centre, did Del-Boy’s Monday night running get him the 14 shirt back? Amazing isn’t it there appears real strength in depth with an England squad member struggling to break in and HRHRH waiting on the side lines.

The third problem I see for the Men in Black is discipline. As mentioned earlier Drahm will punish any mistakes and we have been giving away too many penalties and yellow cards. Worcester have their own yellow card nemesis available as Chris Horseman has not been included in the Wales squad for the All Black game. CH currently stands on 4 yellow cards the last one for retaliation!

So in summary we have a resurgent Sarries against wounded Warriors, a classic banana skin. Worcester are due a win but I don’t believe they will get it this weekend. The Men in Black should achieve parity if not dominance in the forwards and have the backs to break the gain line. In Glen Jackson we have the form 10 in the GP. Predictions a Sarries win, bonus point? Hum, ah, yes!