By The Bard
January 5 2007

Let’s face it; if London Irish could pick a team to play every week, it would be us. And if they did, Big Bad Bob Casey would be up there with Willie John and Johnno as the great second rows of all time. It amazes me that Casey has only 5 Irish caps to show for his troubles, and he’d surely walk into the England team as captain at the moment (if he was English of course). If we are to stand any chance of success on Sunday, we will have to counter his physical presence around the pitch.

Another literally huge presence could be the Exiles South African prop Faan Rautenbach, who has recently returned to the side following a serious neck injury. For a man born in Bethlehem he made a predictably huge impact at Vicarage Road last Christmas when he destroyed the Sarries front row, albeit in Cobus’ absence. A second half rally got us back into that game, only to lose it at the death to a Barry Everitt (the Steve Davies of rugby?) penalty.

Last season’s league encounter at the Madstad again produced the inevitable Exiles victory, but only after we had dominated most of the possession but gifted Irish 4 interception tries. It showed that they certainly can be beaten, but only with due care and attention when flinging the ball around.

A number of players will be looking to show their erstwhile employers what they are missing. On the Irish side there could be Steffon Armitage, who left the Men in Black at the end of last season in less than harmonious circumstances. As we saw on the telly on Boxing Day, he is still a very physical presence on the pitch and regularly finds his way across the try line. Robbie Russell is in his third term with the Exiles, but despite his sterling work in the loose he still seems no nearer mastering the art of lineout throwing. Russell is the one hooker who can make Shane Byrne appear able to thread needles blindfolded from 20 paces! And finally Keiron Roche, who was somewhat unlucky to fall foul of the Buck Shelford regime in 2002 has now made nearly 80 appearances for Irish, and was their players player of the year last season.

Travelling back to Reading will be Paul Gustard and Rodd Penney. Gustard is facing fierce competition for a place in the Sarries back row, but will have had his confidence boosted by the man of the match award against Saints. It must help looking like Chesney from a distance, who will always be a more likely suspect for any misdemeanours on the pitch! Rodd Penney seems to have his own private place on the bench, although the word is that he had a good game at Welford Road on New Years Day. The only advice I can give him is to shave that beard off- it’s not nice and it frightens the children.

Quiz time. Name the player- In his thirties, made his international debut in the mid-nineties, has worn just about every shirt from 10 upwards, made an international comeback last season and would dearly love to crown his career at the World Cup, although is consistently blighted by hamstring injuries. ‘Mercurial’ is often used to describe their play. What odds on both MC and MTC appearing on the same pitch?

Unfortunately the latest injury suffered by our version makes it look unlikely that he will take part, and it will be interesting to see how the selection goes after recent rotations. A bigger pack should certainly be on the menu after Monday’s ordeal, and surely Jackson and de Kock will return to the fray.
Sarries look better equipped to win than has been the case for many a year, we just need to call on ‘Ghostbusters’ to exorcise the demons. But we said that before Monday...

Saracens:
Scarbrough; Haughton, Sorrell, Farrell, Ratuvou; Jackson, de Kock; Yates, Cairns, Visagie; Fullarton, Raiwalui (c); Gustard, Hill, Skirving.
Replacements: Byrne, Johnson, Chesney, Seymour, Taylor, Penney.

Referee: Ashley Rowden