As the end of the season looms larger....

By Whaley Shark
April 17 2010

Well, I was so confused by last Friday’s game of two halves that I didn’t know what to write, and then the day job got in the way big style. But we need something to keep the board ticking over, so here are a few reflections on the recent past, and on what lies ahead.......

I actually still haven’t worked out what happened against Sarries. In the game at half time, keeping possession and running the ball, the recipe that succeeded against Worcester and Wasps, we went back to kicking the bloody thing in the second half and our defence, which had been so effective in the previous home games, started to leak. Whether it was because we weren’t quite as good as previously, or whether Sarries had a sharper attacking edge than our previous opponents, I don’t know. I think the Sarries attack did look good, with crisp handling, hard running, and sudden shifts in the line of attack. So maybe their scimitar was sharper than our shield? To be honest though, in my mental checklist of games still to play, I had Sarries down for a losing bonus at best, so I wasn’t entirely surprised.

What else is in my mental checklist? Bath this afternoon. That’ll be tough- we’ve named a strong team but Bath will want to stay in the top six, and have Quins and Gloucester breathing down their necks. On the other hand, they also have Saints visiting on Tuesday, so maybe they’ll rest everybody for that! On balance, I’d be content with an injury-free losing bonus at the Rec.

Newcastle at EP next week- the biggie in my eyes but I just don’t know. The Sale that played the first half against Sarries will win that; second half Sale will struggle. Win and we should be safe but, with Tigers visiting Kingston Park this weekend, it is unlikely that Falcons will be safe and complacent by the time they come to visit us. So next Friday will be TENSE. Beyond that there’s Quins away, and that’s where I am a firm believer in denial. I totally agree with Kingsley- we don’t want to go there needing something to stay up. So let’s get the job done in the next two games; ideally prove me wrong this afternoon and come back from Bath with a bonus point win. Then I’ll get a proper night’s sleep again.

Finally, the Worcester-Leeds thing. Well, if Leeds beat Worcester next weekend, that ought to simplify many things. But with Leeds away to Irish, and Wasps at Sixways before that, almost any outcome is possible. So come on Leeds, it's time for a bit of northern solidarity. Do your stuff! I bear Worcester no ill will at all, but this is a dog-eat-dog game at the moment and right now I'd sooner Worcester's dog was eaten than mine.