Preview to Saracens' Weekend Double Header
By Behindthebench
November 6 2014
Ospreys vs Saracens, LV= Cup, The Gnoll, Friday 7 November 2014 / Saracens vs DHL Western Province, The Sanlam Private Investments Challenge, Allianz Park, Sunday 9 November 2014
Part One
Having got their LV= Cup campaign off to a winning start with an entertaining 25-20 home win over Harlequins, Saracens will look to make it two wins from two.They face the Ospreys at The Gnoll, the home of Neath RFC, for the first match the region has played there since the opening of the Liberty Stadium in 2005, replacing the arrangement where matches were alternated between the St Helen's ground on the seafront at Swansea and Neath, where the inaugural regional fixture was played in 2003. Although the relationship between clubs and regions has been well documented in recent years, there should be a decent crowd in attendance, with the venue selected as a result of an open competition between the different sides in the region, Bridgend staging a game with Newport a week later. Use of an "outground" of a smaller size rather than a larger venue is something of course familiar to Sarries fans immediately before the move to Allianz Park, with Bedford used for an LV= Cup tie against Leicester Tigers.
In the sides' most recent meeting, a line up considerably stronger than the one likely to take the field on Friday lost 39-5 to Sarries in the second game at the Honourable Artillery Company last summer, as the hosts scored five tries, through David Strettle, Billy Vunipola, Richard Wigglesworth, Ben Spencer and Rhys Gill. Undoubtedly the highest profile clash between the sides was back in 2008, though, when Saracens won a memorable Quarter Final 19-10 at Vicarage Road, as Francisco Leonelli scored the hosts' try, It was just two weeks after the Welsh side had beaten Saracens heavily in the then EDF Energy Cup, on their way to a Twickenham final win against Leicester Tigers. The sides also met in the Heineken Cup pool stages in 2011/2012, with Sarries enjoying a win at Wembley, and claiming the victory in South Wales as well.
Looking at the present season, with their future assured as the sometimes bitter dispute with the Welsh Rugby Union was finally ended with a new financial settlement including the prospect of central contracts, the Ospreys have been the success story of the Guinness Pro12 so far, winning all of their matches, except for a Champions Cup demolition job at Northampton Saints. Most notably, they won 19-14 at Munster as one of their seven league victories so far.
But, with Wales still containing a sizeable contingent from the region, it will be a radically changed squad, but contains a large number of players from the Welsh under 20 side. At full back is Richard Fussell, who has in excess of 100 appearances for the region, whilst Daffyd Howells, a Welsh U20, and Fijian international Aisea Natoga are on the wings. In the centres, Ashley Beck, closing in on a century of matches for the Ospreys is partnered by development player Aled Jenkins. At half back, fly half Sam Davies is combined with scrum half Tom Habberfield, who captains the side. In the forwards, an all Welsh under 20 front row features debutant Gareth Thomas and Dan Suter at prop, with Scott Otten as hooker. Swansea development player Rory Thornton is accompanied by Rhodri Hughes at lock, whilst the back row consists of Jordan Collier, at his "home" club. Bridgend development player Lloyd Evans and Fijian Ifereimi Boladau. On the bench are experienced hooker Matthew Dwyer, props Marc Thomas and Nicky Thomas, lock Adam Beard, Tommy Spinks, Italian scrun half Tito Tibaldi, winger Hanno Dirksen (in his sixth season with the region with 17 tries from 63 appearances) and Welsh under 20 full back Ashley Evans.
Turning to the Saracens side, given the Western Province match, there are a number of changes to the team who beat Harlequins last Sunday. At full back, Will Edwards comes in for Ben Ransom, whilst Jack Wilson and George Perkins replace Mike Ellery and Catalin Fercu on the wings. Nick Tomkins remains at centre, but is now partnered by debutant, and USA international, Thretton Palamo, instead of Duncan Taylor. The half back combination of Nils Mordt and Spencer is retained. Into the forwards, and Jack Culverhouse and Biyi Alo replace Gill and Juan Figallo at prop. Brett Sharman, having signed a deal to stay with the club until the end of the season, starts at hooker in place of Scott Spurling. Captain Maro Itoje moves to lock to partner Hayden Smith, instead of Jim Hamilton and Mouritz Botha filling these berths. The new look back row consists of Hayden Thompson-Stringer, Matt Hankin and Nick de Jager. Josh Taylor, Ralph Adams-Hale, Sebastien Ferreira. Kennet O’Neil, Ben Featherstone, Tom Whiteley, Max Wilkins and Matt Gallagher make up the replacements.
Part Two
So to part two. I've been looking forward to this match since it was announced, snapping up my seat (for £44) and now the grateful recipient of a refund from the club after ticket prices were reduced. As with the visit of the Natal Sharks last year, the Newlands, Cape Town based Western Province side are Currie Cup holders, having won it for the 34th time this year. In effect, this has a complex league and divisional structure, with play-offs and a final like the Aviva Premiership. They also participate in the Vodacom Cup, a tournament which is billed as developmental, in the same way as the LV= Cup, and also including sides from Argentina, Namibia and Kenya at various times, They combine with Boland Cavaliers to compete as Stormers within Super Rugby.
Coached by former South African scrum half Allister Coetzee since 2008, Western Province won eight and only lost two of their regular season matches, the second of these coming at home to the Sharks with a weakened side when a semi-final was already secured. The campaign began with a 35-16 win at an Eastern Province Kings side who would finish at the bottom of the table, before a commanding 41-17 home win over Blue Bulls, who will visit Allianz Park in January. Narrower wins were earnt at home to Golden Lions and at Blue Bulls, ahead of a more comfortable 49-14 home success against Eastern Province. They were edged out 35-33 at Golden Lions, but then beat Griquas 36-12 and won at the Pumas and Free State Cheetahs to claim their home semi-final with a game to spare. Overcoming the Blue Bulls, who finished fourth in the table, 31-23 at Newlands, as full back Cheslin Kolbe scored two tries, and scrum half Nic Groom got another for a matchwinning 25-10 interval advantage. Jaco Taute scored the only try in a tight 19-16 win over Golden Lions at Newlands.
Onto this match, then. Both sides have announced their squads, but not the starting line ups, which should appear on Friday. Saracens have emphasised that the strongest possible side will be selected, allowing for international call ups. Alistair Hargreaves is confirmed to captain the side, and will probably be partnered at lock by Botha, against his former club. The backs seem likely to feature Ben Ransom at full back, with Chris Ashton and David Strettle on the wings, and a possible combination of Chris Wyles and Tim Streather in the centres. Neil de Kock and Charlie Hodgson should make up the half-back combination. However, the rest of the forwards seem harder to call, a possible front row comprised of Richard Barrington, Jamie George and Petrus de Plessis would be one prediction, whilst the back row could consist of Kelly Brown, Jackson Wray and Ernst Joubert. (Now see how wrong I am when the teams are announced)
Western Province's 24 man touring party contains eleven of the starting 15 in the Currie Cup final, including try scorer Taute and captain Juan de Jongh, who featured for the Barbarians last week. That seems to be the likeliest centre partnership,
Kolbe is rested, with Dillyn Leyds expected to feature instead at full back. Kobus van Wyk was on the wing in the final, and is available for this match, but, on the opposite side, Pat Howard is expected to replace Seabelo Senatla, who is with South Africa. Fly half Demetri Catrakilis and scrum half Nic Groom were the half backs in the final, and should start here. However, changes are expected in the front row. Nizaam Carr is away on international duty, so Sikhumbuzo Notshe will come in at prop. Michael Rhodes, another from Barbarians duty, will be at hooker subject to a late fitness test. Vincent Koch or Wilco Louw may be added to the front row in place of Rynhardt Elstadt. Manuel Carizza and Jean Kleyn seem set to continue at lock, but the back row will see a change as Pat Cilliers is not in the group, although Scarra Ntubeni and Alistair Vermaak are.
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Thanks goto Behindthebench for a double header preview for the weekend.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2014:11:14:13:49:58 by Darraghgirl.
Here's to two victories for Saracens.
~ You never knowingly let the facts get in the way of the story. ~
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:11:07:07:26:14 by AB.
For your records, I think you've mixed up Province's back row and front row
I'm a bit bemused as to why Scott Spurling and Mr Fercu don't get a run out at any stage this weekend, despite being two of our best players last Sunday.
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!