Parker Pen Challenge Cup Preview - First Leg

By Jason Harris
January 10 2003

Saracens entertain Newcastle Falcons at Vicarage Road on Sunday in the first leg of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup quater final tie. A big win will be needed if the Men in Black are to go through to the last four, especially as their record at Kingston Park over the years has been abysmal.

Thanks to the ERC's sensible (for a change) regulation that sides are to be announced 48 hours before kick-off, we know already the makeup of the two fifteens that will take the field.

Newcastle are still without their inspirational captain Jonny Wilkinson who is still recovering after his bludgeoning from the Boks before Christmas. Wilkinson's brother Mark deputises at fly half once again, but his form has failed to emulate that of his more illustrious sibling. Putting it bluntly, Newcastle have struggled without Jonny pulling the strings.

A pack of forwards that looks distinctly lighter than last season's vintage could well be one that a powerful Sarries eight could take advantage of. There are few stand-out names in the Falcons forwards and they appear not to be working as a unit given their rock-bottom league position.

Perhaps this is indicative of a monumental blunder by Director of Rugby Rob Andrew when he let most of his best fowards leave at the end of last term. Though Springbok legend Mark Andrews is now part of the Falcons set-up, he is unable to play, neither is former All Black centre Mark Mayerhofler.

But, as they say, the Cup is a different kettle of worms and it's all on the day, so Sarries will be unwise to be complacent.

The Men in Black are also missing a talisman in Thomas Castaignede who is still not available due to the groin strain he picked up against Sale in the Powergen Cup.

Coach Shelford has re-shuffled midfield, bringing back Andy Goode for his first start at stand-off since the defeat at Harlequins and moving last week's no10 Tim Horan into the centre.

Shelford commented about the move on the club's official web site "There's been a lot of competition at fly half lately and Andy (Goode) gets his chance to impress this weekend. He's been training hard and playing well and I'm looking forward to seeing him get stuck in on Sunday."

Up front, there are a couple of changes due to the return from injury of young no8 Ben Russell. Making way for the England 7s man to lock the scrum is Kris Chesney who starts on the blind side. Chesney in turn displaces Abdel Benazzi who moves into the second row with Stuart Hooper. The player to miss out is Craig Yandell who is relegated to the bench.

This game, on paper at least, is a home banker but Saracens have had a knack this season of lowering themselves to the level of poorly-playing opposition. We saw ample evidence of this in the league game between these two sides earlier in the season and also when they got dragged into the streetfight that was the second half of the Bath game in September.

They will have to concentrate on playing the football and not getting caught up in any nonsense. The aim is perfectly clear. Get as many points of an advantage as possible to take to Kingston Park becuase a win up there is not going to come easily.

The Falcons overturned a 19 point deficit against Treviso and with Wilkinson the younger potentially returning for the second leg, Sarries need to take advantage of their under-strength opponents.



A win is on the cards, especially as a question hangs over the visitors about whether they will sacrifice progression in this competition for survival in the Zurich Premiership, but my optimisim is tempered by the age-old question posed at the start of two-legged cup ties. Will it be a enough win?