By Mark H
February 13 2004

Six Nations or Saints? No question really, so if you’re not going to Rome get yourself down to the Vicarage on Sunday and worship the gods you can believe in, offering prayers up for a better performance, a same result, and that Steve Leyshon has learned the offside law in the last seven days… It’s a first meeting between the Men in Black and the All Black, Gold and Green this season, as the game that should have been played in front of the Sky cameras back on 15th October without the internationals is now played four months on, still without the internationals and also without the Sky cameras. On the first point, I’d rather see rugby between full strength sides. On the second, I’m glad Sky aren’t there. This is not going to be pretty.

Two sides, one suffering a hangover from not enough Heineken, the other trying to get enough points merely to make a Wildcard place. Both with hopes of Twickenham in different competitions. Both written off by the “experts”. Both who infuriate their supporters on a regular basis. Yes, it’s looking like a typical Sarries v Saints clash…

Any regular readers of the young Mr Harris’ excellent Casbah Chronicles will know that Jason has gone from tearing his hair out at the start of the season…to tearing his hair out at the moment. Sarries had their usual summer, changing the coach, three quarters of the playing staff, their focus, the beer barrel and their underpants, and after having an “interesting” pre-season anything-but-friendly in Agen (55 minutes, 2 red cards, numerous fights and absolute anarchy), the team that couldn’t win away promptly went to Newcastle on a warm September afternoon and took the points home with them. That was a very strange game, with Falcons not turning up in the first half as Sarries took a 20-3 interval lead, then coming back into it only for Richard Haughton, possibly the quickest player in the ZP, to win the game with an interception try.

Sarries’ highest profile signing, Kiwi legend Taine Randell, must have wondered what to make of it. Feted pre-season as one of the potential stars of this season, he hasn’t quite reached those heights as yet, but anyone who saw his performance in the New Year hammering of Leeds will have seen that he’s now not that far off, driving the team forward from number eight for a team who up until that point had been desperately in need of a decent result. Granted, they’ve had some funny results in the Parker pen in recent weeks, walloping Glasgow only to nearly go out on aggregate on a nightmare Friday at Hughenden, then giving a strong Montferrand side too much of a start in France to get a semi-final place. Last Saturday saw four Paul Burke penalties deny them a win at the Stoop. There’s still a Powergen Cup quarter final at Sale to look forward to in a fortnight, but on Sunday it’s the first of two home league games that could either start or end their ZP campaign.

Rod Kafer has had an interesting six months since taking over as head coach; lots of promise followed, as I’m sure that every Saints supporter (let alone Sarries) will appreciate, the inevitable letdowns, and then an upturn, albeit brief, in fortunes. Due to various injury concerns, and the aforementioned Six Nations, the team wasn’t due to be announced until Friday lunchtime, but looking at the certainties of the situation, there will be no Richard Hill (in Rome), Richard Haughton and Tony Roques (Sevens duty in the USA), Robbie Russell (in Cardiff with Scotland), and Bens Skirving and Russell (under 21 duty). There’s also major doubts over the fitness of Alex Codling in the second row, and Ben Johnston in the centre.

So, who will be there? Well, and somewhat surprisingly, Kyran Bracken will more than likely be at nine, the Broken One an early victim of the post-RWC cull. It will be interesting though if either Gomarsall or Daws goes down injured over the next couple of days in training as to whether Bracken will be on the plane to Rome or Sir Clive will go for Harry Ellis to sit on the bench. Fly half since the departure of Andy Goode has been possibly the most talented player in the ZP in Thomas Castaignede, and it is absolutely no coincidence that when he’s ticked in recent weeks, Sarries have looked a quality unit going forwards. It’s always a pleasure to see him playing, particularly since that horrific injury, but I hope that he has a quieter afternoon on Sunday.

Randell is another immense player, and his clash with AB will be a positive treat, hoping of course that AB makes it after missing out last Saturday. With Saints having the same problems as Sarries in picking a team, the following near-team was named on Thursday:-

15 Bruce Reihana
14 Mark Tucker
13 Chris Hyndman
12 John Leslie (captain)
11 Oriol Ripol
10 Shane Drahm
9 Mark Robinson
1 Chris Budgen/Robbie Morris/Tevita Taumoepeau
2 Dan Richmond
3 Chris Budgen/Robbie Morris/Tevita Taumoepeau
4 Matt Lord
5 Mark Connors
6 Andrew Blowers
7 Darren Fox
8 Grant Seely

16 Matt Miles
17 Chris Budgen/Robbie Morris/Tevita Taumoepeau
18 Rob Hunter
19 Brett McNamee
20 Johnny Howard
21 Nick Beal
22 Andy Vilk

The front row appears to be select any two from three to start, with the third going on the bench, and if I were a betting man, then I would guess that it’ll be Robbie Morris who misses out, coming back as he is from his injury against Llanelli. Tucks moves onto the wing in the absence of Ben Cohen, Sharky returns at scrum half, and AB is scheduled to come back into the back row. On the bench, Bealer returns after missing the last two games, and there’s appearances again for Messrs McNamee and Vilk after winning debuts last Saturday.

It won’t be pretty, with the Saints front row appearing to be the weak link on paper at this point in time, but the rest of the pack look to have the edge on anything that Sarries can produce this weekend. Sharky against Broken will be a great clash, as will Shine’s duel with Mr Castanets. It’s almost too close to call, but if Saints want to finish in the top three then an away victory is essential. The gold, black and green record in the league at Vicarage Road is not great, the last victory coming via a Pat Lam inspired performance in December 2000, but the cup record is much better, with victories in recent years courtesy of a missed Sarries drop goal (which was a mile wide), and a successful Bealer drop.

So there you have it. It’s a cup tie, very nearly winner takes all. May the winner have a coach ride up the M1 home…