SARACENS v NRB (Cup) PREVIEW

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Thanks for the preview. We’ll probably need to factor in England call ups which might include the Brackens, Elliott, Hall and a few others. Selfishly I hope we keep most of them as I want to watch them play together and fit us to go deep in this comp.

Would imagine the squad won’t be far off what we saw at Cambridge. Andy Christie is a bit short of game time so might get a run. If we think Max is 10 cover then surely he has to start this. Jack Bracken has not played too much prem so may well get a start.
Could potentially have 3 Brackens in the squad!

O'Driscoll, Elliott, Caluori in England A squad, Theo Dan in England Squad along with Earl, Itoje, George, Martin,

Very short at loosehead with the international call ups.

Agree it would make sense for Max to get some more time at 10, but hopefully at least one of Davidson and Keylock are involved with the other starting for Ampthill.

I think we need to protect Sione with Hartley injured

I wouldnt mind seeing a starting backline of:

C.Bracken
Malins
Kava
Hall
Rawlins
J.Bracken
Keylock

Keylock to move to 10 at half time and Jack to 15.

Would certainly go along with that backline

My guess would be something like this;

Phil B
Clarke
Clarey
Tayo
Eke
West
Knight
Mitch
Bracken
Malins
Bracken
Sione
Hall
Rawlings
Davidson

Probably not far off Jim. I imagine Va’enuku might be held back so he doesn’t get injured. Maybe go with Hall and Rawlings in the centres and Kava on the wing. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Isiekwe and Tizard rotating in and out in the second row over the next two weeks too. I’d quite like to see Davidson and Keylock working in tandem but Malins at 10 seems likely,

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jimfitz12
My guess would be something like this;
Phil B
Clarke
Clarey
Tayo
Eke
West
Knight
Mitch
Bracken
Malins
Bracken
Sione
Hall
Rawlings
Davidson

I would like to see Tayo or Eke at 6. I think they fit to lock/backrow hybrid we are looking for this season in that shirt.

Bring Sylvester in to second row and give Nathan or Toby a rest

Personally I would love to see J Bracken at FB, as could be a great option for us moving forward. Kava and Rawlings covering the other wings could be tasty.

I enjoy these games as although there is not much riding on them it is a great opportunity to see the wider playing squad and occasionally you get the chance to have an early sighting of someone who goes on to be a rugby great. The second point is just as valid for the oppo as it is for Sarries. I can remember both Owen and Maro cutting their teeth in the equivalent competition- it changes its name so many times I can’t tell you what it was called. In fact it might be fun to see if we can between us remember the previous names for this competition before it became the Prem Rugby Cup. Was LV once a sponsor?

Quote:

jimfitz12
My guess would be something like this;
Phil B
Clarke
Clarey
Tayo
Eke
West
Knight
Mitch
Bracken
Malins
Bracken
Sione
Hall
Rawlings
Davidson

But who to captain? I wouldn't be surprised to see an old(er) head or two to help lead.

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nicsue

Quote:

jimfitz12
My guess would be something like this;
Phil B
Clarke
Clarey
Tayo
Eke
West
Knight
Mitch
Bracken
Malins
Bracken
Sione
Hall
Rawlings
Davidson

But who to captain? I wouldn't be surprised to see an old(er) head or two to help lead.

Michelow if he’s picked. We really need to build leadership skills in the next generation. The last “story of the game” video is was Jamie and Faz leading when the @#$%& was hitting the fan at half time. I appreciate we don’t get to see all of it but we need new voices in the group.

Dehautier isn’t the biggest lock but he played at Cambridge and will presumably bench at least. He’s got very tidy footwork!

Definitely don't play Malins. We're an injury to him away from having to play Farrell and or Daly in a proper match day squad and that's our season over if we have to do that any length of time.

I'd play them both in the PRC. Both badly need game time and help lead and motivate our youngsters seems a good position for them.

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PaulHerox
Definitely don't play Malins. We're an injury to him away from having to play Farrell and or Daly in a proper match day squad and that's our season over if we have to do that any length of time.
I'd play them both in the PRC. Both badly need game time and help lead and motivate our youngsters seems a good position for them.

We are in much worse trouble if we need to play Malins at 10 for an extended period in his current form. He hasn't exactly set the world alight at 15 either.

If he is going to be a legitimate option at 10 he needs the game time

Disagree. He's had one terrible moment this season with the failed grounding and missed a tackle he should have made in the back field. When he came on at 10 for Burke he was decent. Not brilliant but decent.
At 15 he's not had the impact he'd have wanted but has still been significantly better than our other option who had another stinker last weekend.


Maybe Farrell lacks the fitness or hardiness to be exposed to more rugby in which case I guess I understand it but he looks to me like a player who badly needs game time.

Quote:

PaulHerox
Disagree. He's had one terrible moment this season with the failed grounding and missed a tackle he should have made in the back field. When he came on at 10 for Burke he was decent. Not brilliant but decent.
At 15 he's not had the impact he'd have wanted but has still been significantly better than our other option who had another stinker last weekend.


Maybe Farrell lacks the fitness or hardiness to be exposed to more rugby in which case I guess I understand it but he looks to me like a player who badly needs game time.

You just seem to be blinkered for and against the players you like and dont like.

Daly has not been any worse this season than Malins. Both have been well below par.

At 10 Malins is, understandably, indecisive and slow paced. He looks like a player filling in rather than a leader of a backline. Imo he needs the game time if he is going to be more than a fall back option.

Our issue at the weekend was 22 conversion in the 1st half, largely due to the pack. Faz was no more at fault than the rest of the 14 players, unless he is now also calling the lineout

Paul I would still definitely have Owen on the bench in my Gun XXIII and at present I still think Elliot is our best option for full back, although that may change as the season progresses.

Quote:

ComeOnSarries
I enjoy these games as although there is not much riding on them it is a great opportunity to see the wider playing squad and occasionally you get the chance to have an early sighting of someone who goes on to be a rugby great. The second point is just as valid for the oppo as it is for Sarries. I can remember both Owen and Maro cutting their teeth in the equivalent competition- it changes its name so many times I can’t tell you what it was called. In fact it might be fun to see if we can between us remember the previous names for this competition before it became the Prem Rugby Cup. Was LV once a sponsor?

We won the LV Cup in 2015 with Maro as the captain. We beat Exeter Chiefs at Franklins Gardens and it was a cracking day out and Ben Spencer kicked a last minute penalty.

Some interesting names in our side that day.

[www.bbc.co.uk]

Quote:

The Wolfpack Watch

Quote:

ComeOnSarries
I enjoy these games as although there is not much riding on them it is a great opportunity to see the wider playing squad and occasionally you get the chance to have an early sighting of someone who goes on to be a rugby great. The second point is just as valid for the oppo as it is for Sarries. I can remember both Owen and Maro cutting their teeth in the equivalent competition- it changes its name so many times I can’t tell you what it was called. In fact it might be fun to see if we can between us remember the previous names for this competition before it became the Prem Rugby Cup. Was LV once a sponsor?

We won the LV Cup in 2015 with Maro as the captain. We beat Exeter Chiefs at Franklins Gardens and it was a cracking day out and Ben Spencer kicked a last minute penalty.


Some interesting names in our side that day.

[www.bbc.co.uk]

Also remember the good run to get to the final in 2019 to then face a Saints team who’d loaded themselves with first teamers

Mike Ellery decisive score as I remember. First time we’d got the better of Samu Manoa and Courtney Lawes in a big game.

A very acrobatic winger Ellery was I remember

SARACENS TEAM TO PLAY NEWCASTLE RED BULLS

1 Phil Brantingham
2 Eoghan Clarke
3 Corné Weilbach
4 Mathis Dehauteur
5 Kennedy Sylvester
6 Max Eke
7 Andy Onyeama-Christie
8 Nathan Michelow (C)
9 Tom James
10 Luke Davidson
11 Jack Bracken
12 Sione Va’enuku
13 Angus Hall
14 Fraser Rawlins
15 Max Malins


REPLACEMENTS
16 James Isaacs
17 Vilikesa Nairau
18 Alec Clarey
19 Hugh Tizard
20 Tayo Adegbemile
21 Toby Knight
22 Charlie Bracken
23 Finn Keylock

Like the look of that side.

Plenty of younger lads and a chance for AOC and Malins to provide some leadership and play themselves in to form.

Better for Nairau to get some minutes with us than act as a reserve for Fiji.

Newcastle side

15 Harrison Obatoyinbo,
14 Obi Ene,
13 Oli Spencer,
12 Rhys Beeckmans,
11 Brandon Jackson,
10 Jake Dalziel,
9 James Elliott (captain);

1 Adam Brocklebank,
2 Samson Adejimi,
3 James Harper,
4 Rob Carmichael,
5 Finn Baker,
6 Ollie Leatherbarrow,
7 George Bolam,
8 Mason Flesch.

Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Tom West, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Cam Jordan, 20 Euan Oakes, 21 Kaleem Barreto, 22 Ethan Grayson, 23 Nathan Greenwood.

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tpr's headmistress
SARACENS TEAM TO PLAY NEWCASTLE RED BULLS
1 Phil Brantingham
2 Eoghan Clarke
3 Corné Weilbach
4 Mathis Dehauteur
5 Kennedy Sylvester
6 Max Eke
7 Andy Onyeama-Christie
8 Nathan Michelow (C)
9 Tom James
10 Luke Davidson
11 Jack Bracken
12 Sione Va’enuku
13 Angus Hall
14 Fraser Rawlins
15 Max Malins


REPLACEMENTS
16 James Isaacs
17 Vilikesa Nairau
18 Alec Clarey
19 Hugh Tizard
20 Tayo Adegbemile
21 Toby Knight
22 Charlie Bracken
23 Finn Keylock

A lot to like there, excited to see that backline.

Really nice looking team
Surprised to see Sione picked, as he will be important for us come December but it shows how light we are at 12 with Hartley out
Also thought Beaton would feature for us but he’s playing for Ampthill, along with Charlie West

Quote:

MarkCol7
Really nice looking team
Surprised to see Sione picked, as he will be important for us come December but it shows how light we are at 12 with Hartley out
Also thought Beaton would feature for us but he’s playing for Ampthill, along with Charlie West

Don’t mind Sione playing. He’s still so new to the game and you can see him learning every time he puts the shirt on. Building a partnership with Hall a great idea as well.

Does anyone know how long Hartley is meant to be out for?

You’d expect 6 weeks to be a starting point so maybe he’ll be back for the December games?

Good looking team, bit surprised we’ve gone 6-2 in this comp.

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The Bard
You’d expect 6 weeks to be a starting point so maybe he’ll be back for the December games?

Makes sense

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The Bard
Good looking team, bit surprised we’ve gone 6-2 in this comp.

Same, but at least we have a backline where everyone bar Tom James has experience in other positions and Keylock has played 10, wing and 15

Really like the team and also that NRB have picked a similarly experienced team. It should make for a good contest.

As mentioned above lots to look forward to especially the potential in that centre pairing. How is Davidson as a kicker, do we expect him to be taking them or will Hall from 13. Great to see Eke back too.

Nice seeing Jackson for NRB too. It should be a really great day of rugby.

Davidson kicks for Ampthill, I believe ahead of both Keylock and Hall when they’re playing at the same time.

[quote The Bard]You’d expect 6 weeks to be a starting point so maybe he’ll be back for the December games?[/quote

He walked past us at last week’s game and his arm was no longer in a cast.

Quote:

TommyKentish
Davidson kicks for Ampthill, I believe ahead of both Keylock and Hall when they’re playing at the same time.

I remember seeing a stat saying something like Davidson only missed one of his 11 attempts playing for Ampthill

Keylock looks pretty handy with the boot as well.

It may be that our 3 most in form kickers are all playing in the Prem Cup side

Thanks Tommy Kentish. That's great news for the future of Kicking at sticks for Sarries!

Team Update

Owen Gillett comes in as Nairau now with Fiji.

An enjoyable afternoon at the StoneX and I think it is fair to say that Luke Davidson looks like he will have a decent rugby career. His place kicking and kicking from hand were top notch and he has a decent passing game as well. Others I noticed included Phil Brantingham who had his opposite number on toast at the scrum. I thought Sylvester put himself about pretty well as well.
The only downer was Jack B going off injured in the 2nd half.
Made me smile to see Nick Isiekwe as water boy!

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ComeOnSarries
An enjoyable afternoon at the StoneX and I think it is fair to say that Luke Davidson looks like he will have a decent rugby career. His place kicking and kicking from hand were top notch and he has a decent passing game as well. Others I noticed included Phil Brantingham who had his opposite number on toast at the scrum. I thought Sylvester put himself about pretty well as well.
The only downer was Jack B going off injured in the 2nd half.
Made me smile to see Nick Isiekwe as water boy!

Did the Jack B one look bad?

A bit of a mixed bag for me.

Clearly we weren’t under too much pressure and controlled the game well.

I would like to have seen us try to play a little more. I’m not really sure I should be leaving a cup game against that poor an opposition with as potentially exciting a back line as we had thinking Tom James has an excellent box kick (and he does).

Quote:

jimfitz12

Quote:

ComeOnSarries
An enjoyable afternoon at the StoneX and I think it is fair to say that Luke Davidson looks like he will have a decent rugby career. His place kicking and kicking from hand were top notch and he has a decent passing game as well. Others I noticed included Phil Brantingham who had his opposite number on toast at the scrum. I thought Sylvester put himself about pretty well as well.
The only downer was Jack B going off injured in the 2nd half.
Made me smile to see Nick Isiekwe as water boy!

Did the Jack B one look bad?

Went down in contact and hobbled off assisted by two physios. Didnt look great.

Plenty to admire for me. Christie certainly played like he was fighting for a place in the first team. Sylvester very physical, Michelow excellent and Knight very good when he came on. Scrum very good.
In the backs Va’enuku was shackled well and never managed to offload. Great work to create some of the early tries and good line speed in defence.
Fair to say now the talent in the squad is far more evenly spread than it was 6-7 years ago, in part because we don’t have the same amount of top players but our back up is much better.

A very enjoyable performance overall. A bit hard to work out exactly why we dropped off in the second half although the set piece wasn't as dominant so that probably played a part.

The one thing that really stuck with me was how good we were on the restart. Did we lose a single one. Every player that went to claim one seemed to nail it including Brantingham on a short kick. Very impressive.

I thought Va'enuku had a brilliant first 40. Probably the best player on the field. Taking names in defence, carrying hard over the gainline and getting turnovers. Very quiet in the second though. Hall outside him seemed ok. His kicking for field position was good.
J Bracken did a great job of chasing and closing down their 8 on kick return. Brave as anything and tenacious too.

I'm not familiar with either starting lock but felt both did well although they seemed equally terrified when they found themselves in open space! Eke just as good as before his injury. Michelow not an 8 for me and quiet until his break late in the second half.

Impressed by Davidson. Great kicking mostly from out wide and I was going to eulogise his kicking from hand (with purpose rather than speculation) up until the 30th minute when it became a bit less so. C Bracken ok when he came on an obviously had lots of support at the game.
Malins classy at 15. Great communication with the others in the back three and solid defence. Didn't get to do much into attack but was always there as an option but ended up hitting quite a lot of rucks as players took contact rather than pass.

No idea how highly this NRB group is rated but it was a comfortable win in a competition where there will surely be tougher challenges ahead.

I thought Newcastle were very poor, but you can only beat what is in front of you.

Hopefully we can keep this core group together, with a few in and out, to build continuity over the next couple of weeks.

Easy to forget how young a lot of these lads are. Even Michelow and Sylvester, who feel like they have been around for a while, are still only 22.

The club identified Davidson from South Africa a few years and seem to think he will be the long term successor at fly half
Hopefully he gets the next 2 cup games to show more promise