Good King Gavin looked out ...
The Messiah?
By DarraghGirl
December 23 2010
Have you been practising your carol singing?Do you feel the need for a refresher course before embarking on communal cantation? Clear your throat ...
At the Court of King Gavin
Good King Gav at last stepped out
On the Feast of Stephen
Where the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even.
Onto Wembley turf he strode
Golden tan a glowing
Was this sport or Strictly mode?
Waltz or Garryowen?
He looked round for a friendly face
To dance the light Fandango
Instead of Katya’s warm embrace
Betson came to Tango
As he stared in awe and fear
A camel came from heaven
“There’s something special happening here,
Gavin you’re a Sarricen”
In the Camel’s steps he trod
Where the Wasps lay dying
Carnage on the Wembley S*d
Gavin hit the try line
Therefore Rugby Men be sure
Points and tries possessing
Grind the Wasps into the floor
Five points worth of blessing!
News of our St Stephen’s Day clash with Wasps (technically according to the Oxford English Dictionary Boxing Day is the first weekday after Christmas ie 27th) has been all about our Gavin. Will he play? Where will he play? Will he recognise his teammates? Will he remember the rules (sorry laws)? Will the fake tan rub off on the snow? The raison d’etre for getting Gavin in the first place has of course disappeared with the discovery of young Farrell who has pretty much nailed the fly half spot for himself with a series of confident, mature and classy performances that lead one to believe Gav might have to step in to cover him while he’s on England duty! But in its wake we now have an injury crisis in the centres which is of course is our Gav’s natural position (and given his long absence from the game surely familiar territory would be wise). Tagi especially and Strettle have done their best but putting them at centre negates the attacking threat they pose on the wing.
It is also rumoured that Goode is now fit to play again so for the first time in a while we have a selection dilemma in the backs. What a luxury!
Of course our Wembley stronghold was breached by Leinster in the autumn but we still have a pretty good record there, assuming teams and supporters can actually reach the stadium courtesy of ASLEF’s lack of generosity. Hopefully the policy of sitting season ticket holders and friends together will make for an improved atmosphere.
Wasps, shorn of their superstars (and a significant amount of eye-candy with the departure of Cipriani and Lewsey) have nevertheless had a decent season lying 5th in the premiership and sitting 2nd to Toulouse in Pool 6 of the Heineken Cup with a realistic chance of qualification. They are on a bit of a roll having won their last 6 games in all competitions and of course they now feature Sarries’ old boys Richard Haughton, Ben Broster and Ben Jacobs who has had a superb season for the Insects. Jacobs and Steve Kefu will certainly pose a threat to Gav if he comes on at Centre. Wasps may welcome back Riki Flutey and although they are without captain Tom Rees, they still boast Simon Shaw, the premiership’s longest serving player and may yet play the fearsome Serge Betson to put the wind up young Owen (remember what he did to JBW in Paris a few years back?)
I thought a quick look through the Opta stats might be interesting. Given the concerns around our set piece, it is interesting to note that Sarries have won the most lineouts (Wasps 7th) and lost the 2nd least (Wasps have lost the 2nd most) – so an area to target methinks. On the scrum side things are less positive – Sarries are 2nd bottom in the number of scrums won (Wasps are 3rd top) and 4th in the number of scrums lost (Wasps are 5th though). Individually, Strettle tops the table for defenders beaten (Brits is 6th) and is 2nd in the table for clean breaks (Jacobs is 4th). Wasp’s Tom Varndell leads the try scoring stats with 6 (although our very own “rugby player” Schalk Brits has 5) and Dave Walder is 3rd in the goal kicking table (he’s also 4th in the “missed penalties” list, top of the missed tackles and 8th in the bad passes). When it comes to conceding penalties, Tim Payne is the big culprit with 5 defensive and 12 offensive.
So a very Merry Christmas to all Sarries supporters. 2010 was a good year but 2011 will be EVEN BETTER!
{The infamous preview from a previous season can be found on the link below. Ed}
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2010:12:31:12:18:54 by TonyTaff.
Thanks for the report and song DG
Graeme
Can we learn the song before Sunday?
Singing voices at the ready everyone!
twitter.com/serenab_
In the 70th minute
Where the snow lay round about
now it was all melted.
Onto Wembley turf he twirled
Golden tan and cuddly
No more Strictly for he was
pining for some Rugby
He looked round for a friendly face
To dance the light Fandango
Instead of Katya’s warm embrace
Worsley came to Tango
As he stared in awe and fear
There came a number seven
There's something nasty coming here
His name is Mr Betsen
On the muddy ground he trod
Where the Wasps were flying
Carnage on the Wembley S*d
Where Gavin was a lying
Serge looked down and to Big Joe
said, "I ought to be confessing
I really didn't feel a thing."
Said Joe, "You are not jesting".
Terrific, DG. Has the makings of a great game. Let's hope so.
The fear of loss is a path to the Dark Side. - Yoda
Thanks
I wish I could write like that!The fear of loss is a path to the Dark Side. - Yoda
You certainly have...
Have a great Christmas though. The atmosphere at Wembley is going to be terrific.
The fear of loss is a path to the Dark Side. - Yoda