Kershaw straight in @ no1

By Jason Harris
September 27 2002

On-loan London Wasps prop Andy Kershaw has been brought into the Saracens starting lineup for the visit of Northampton Saints on Saturday.

Meanwhile, captain Kyran Bracken takes a breather, handing Canadian international Morgan Williams his first start for the Men in Black and the responsibility of leading the side to Kevin Sorrell.

In recent years, games between Saints and Sarries were always entertaining encounters. Sarries used to get the upper hand, but over the last couple of seasons, the men from Franklin's Gardens have had the upper hand, winning four out of the last five games, with Sarries sole victory a 25-20 home league win last September.

Saints coach Wayne Smith has selected no fewer than 13 internationals in a strong starting line-up. The old names are there; Dawson, Grayson, Beal, Poutney and Lesley, along with more recent arrivals like the lightning-fast Oriol Ripol and the Buzzard - Australian no8 Mark Connors.

The Midlanders come into the game sitting in third place in the Zurich Premiership ladder with three wins from their opening four games. Their only reverse was in their first match up at Sale where a last-gasp Charlie Hodgson drop goal won it for the Sharks.

Saracens have had a winning start but have since been on the wrong end of two hammerings from London Irish and Wasps and will be looking to stop the rot on Saturday in front of the Sky television cameras.

Buck Shelford has once again made changes to the Sarries 22 as he continues his squad rotation policy. Along with those mentioned at the top of the page, Adryan Winnan comes in at fullback to replace Thomas Castaignede, Joe Ross replaces Matt Cairns at hooker and Ryan Peacey comes in for Kris Chesney in the back row.

There are also positional changes in the Sarries starting side. Richard Hill dons the no8 shirt and there is a change in the threequarters where Tom Shanklin and Ben Johnston swap places: Shanklin moves into the centre and Johnston onto the wing.


With Saints tipped to be challengers for the title this year, Sarries - on current form at least - could struggle. It will take a huge turnaround in the camp to get on top and win the game. None of the pundits think it will be possible for the Men in Black to return to winning ways and I have to agree with them. Saints should have too much power up front and too much pace behind for Sarries to cope now that coach Smith has found the winning formula that was missing when the side visited Vicarage Road 12 months ago.

The time is ripe for Northampton to take advantage of the Saracens disarray and I think they will do just that. Sarries really have to improve markedly to get anywhere near their visitors, if their previous two displays are anything to go by.

Next week Sarries travel to table toppers Gloucester so this home game is very important. Four points on Saturday will be essential to put the team in better spirits and in the right half of the table for the visit to fortress Kingsholm. Unfortunately, I think they will also prove elusive.

Saracens

15 Adryan Winnan
14 Ben Johnston
13 Tom Shanklin
12 Kevin Sorrell (capt)
11 Darragh O'Mahony
10 Andy Goode
9 Morgan Williams

1 Andy Kershaw
2 Joe Ross
3 Johnny Marsters
4 Craig Yandell
5 Stuart Hooper
6 Ryan Peacey
7 Tony Roques
8 Richard Hill

Replacements: Matt Cairns, James Parkes, Abdel Benazzi, Kris Chesney, Kyran Bracken, Niki Little, Thomas Castaignede.

Northampton

15 Nick Beal
14 Oriol Ripol
13 Peter Jorgensen
12 John Lesley
11 Ben Cohen
10 Paul Grayson
9 Matt Dawson

1 Tom Smith
2 Steve Thompson
3 Robbie Morris
4 Jon Phillips
5 Steve Williams
6 Andrew Blowers
7 Budge Poutney
8 Mark Connors

Replacements: Dan Richomnd, Mattie Stewart, Grant Seely, Mark Soden, James Brooks, Mark Tucker, Jon Sleightholme