By Japie
March 15 2007

Unexpectedly high-flying Bristol visit Vicarage Road for what offers a vital play-off enhancing opportunity for both sides, with both wanting to capitalise with a maximum five points. St Patricks’ Day, Mothers’ Day and “10 years of the Fez Boys” weekend: hopefully time for some celebrating, or at least raising several drinks in respect on all counts. Hopefully Fez-bedecked heads won’t be too sore from the Saturday night party. Sing loudly all the songs on the sing-along sheets being passed round at the game, just to check!

Unexpectedly high-flying Bristol (anyone really think they’d be 2nd at this point in the season?) visit Vicarage Road for what offers a vital play-off enhancing opportunity for both sides. Given Saracens’ disappointing defeat “oop north” last week, they need to get the play-off push firmly set back on track by carving out a win from what is likely to be a tough game. Richard Hill the Elder (the other one from Salisbury…) will bring a confident Bristol side to Watford with high hopes themselves of securing a top two place and home advantage in the end of season play-off's. They lost at home to London Irish in their last game: their first home defeat of the season and third consecutive loss. Saracens were unlucky to only get a 13-13 draw when playing Bristol earlier in the season, and will want to put that right. So sorry to their Mum’s, but the boys are likely to get rightly stuck into some big challenges from the start.

Bristol are likely to be fielding a slightly depleted side: scrum-half Shaun Perry is warming the England bench again and their injury list includes names such as Dan Ward-Smith (England no.8 in waiting, it seems, despite the claims of a certain Mr B. Skirving), Brian Lima (Chiropractor? Poor lad needs a masseur to sort his hamstring), Kiwi Dave Hill, and Matt Salter. Their wayward tighthead prop Jason “Rocky” Hobson is suspended, still reciting his thousand lines about not punching his boyhood hero and the England captain Phil Vickery. Still, what’s left is not without significant attacking and scrummaging threat. In the scrum, New Zealand Maori hooker Scott Linklater and legendary (certainly in Northampton) back-rower Andrew Blowers should feature after their full Bristol débuts last week. If Linklater doesn’t start, that “nice” Mark Regan might (Cobus in particular should enjoy winding him up…). In the backs speedy winger David Lemi and Lee Robinson particularly present constant scoring threats.

Alan Gaffney will pick yet another Dreamteam baffling side, certainly likely to see more squad rotation and changes from the side that lost, somehow, against the Falcons. HRH Richard Hill the Younger should start (sorry Dave “Seeeeeymourrr”) and De Kock has hopefully had a rest and will be ready to return to the XV. High time to see Castaignede start, although Scarborough will be tough to drop from full back (perhaps he’ll slide to the wing to replace Vaikona?).

Predictions: a tight win for Saracens, hangovers from the night before and trouble if you’ve forgotten to send your Mothers’ Day cards.

Eds Note:
Saracens: 15 Castaigndede, 14 Scarbrough, 13 Penney, 12 Sorrell, 11 Ratuvou, 10 Jackson, 9 de Kock.
8 Skirving, 7 Hill, 6 Chesney, 5 Raiwalui, 4 Fullarton, 3 Jonhstone, 2 Byrne, 1 Yates
Bench: 16 Cairns, 17 Lloyd, 18 Vyvyan, 19 Seymour, 20 Rauluni, 21 Laidlaw, 22 de Vedia
Congrats to Japie for predicting the 14, 15 combo.