SARACENS v NRB (Cup) PREVIEW

This strange disjointed rugby season wends its way onward this weekend with a return to the Premiership Cup. You’ll be forgiven for forgetting that we’ve already played R1 (which was back in September with a tryfest 96-42 win over Northampton Saints). This also makes 3 different competitions in 4 weeks! The break for the autumn internationals/Nations Championship means we now have 3 cup fixtures in a row: home to Newcastle Red Bulls and Quins, away to Tigers. Which deluded version of AI thought it would be a good idea to play Newcastle Red Bulls at home on successive Saturdays I have no idea but that is what the fixture computer has given us. A sense of déjà vu? Well maybe but it will be interesting to see how many of the squad who played last Saturday will re appear this Saturday?

Sarries have tended to use the Prem Cup as it is intended: ie as somewhere to give gametime to young and fringe players. NRB on the other hand have often targeted the Cup as their best prospect of silverware and generally being less affected by international call ups, may well field a strong team, not dissimilar to that we saw on Saturday.

Sarries will lose (I think) Itoje, Martin, George, Earl and Caluori to England: Carre and Williams to Wales: Burke (if fit) and Onyeama-Christie to Scotland and Cinti and Gonzalez to Argentina. This is often a time when the senior players jump on a flight to Dubai but given the current rotation policy along with injuries in key positions (fly half, hooker) maybe that won’t be the case. It probably also depends on how much value Sarries put on the Prem Cup (perhaps we should value it a bit more than we have done historically).

Rumour has it that Owen is pretty hands on with coaching the development squad so in theory he should be on the side-lines but it leaves us short at 10! Presume Max will get the jersey with maybe Angus Hall as back up? Or might we see Luke Davidson or Finn Keylock? His half-back partner will presumably be Charlie B. Tom James needs to be on bench-detention after his exploits on Saturday. I’d like Va’enuku to continue at Centre – he’s getting better and better and experience can only be a good thing for him. Tompkins can put his feet up but not sure who starts alongside him? Can Angus Hall play centre? If not I guess its Daly. On the wings I’d go with Jack B and Tobias (just cos he’s a bit rusty so game time will help) and Hall at 15.

Forwards – Props O’Driscoll and Weilbach with probably Eoghan Clarke at Hooker. Locks: will probably have to be Isiekwe and Tizard given injuries and call ups. Back row: I think Barbeary needs more game time so he starts at 8 with 2 from Knight, Michelow and Eke.

Injuries permitting, NRB could field a very similar 15 to last Saturday!

Well if nothing else it’ll be interesting. I don’t expect much of a crowd – will they just be opening the East Stand I wonder? Whatever we move on to phase 2 of this weird season.